Lost In Termina Ch19

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Chapter 19
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Behind The Mask
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CLANG!!!

"Enough of this, we don't have to fight like this!" Iris exclaimed just as she threw her blade to the side of the oncoming attack, and knocked it away with force. "I don't want to fight you!"
"Remember what I told you before; you mustn't let your guard down, for your foe won’t stop till their blade has tasted your blood!" The mind-controlled Jace snarled with a smirk.
Iris dodged a quick swing weakly. "Ugh... Jace told me that, not you!"
The lass tripped upon stepping back and landed with her back to the floor. A look of horror filled her expression when she looked up and soon rolled out of the way of Jace's sword- as it was stabbed to the ground where Iris once laid. He ripped the blade from the ground, before turning to Iris. She quickly got to her feet, and aimed the sword at Jace in defense.

When he sent a heavy swing at Iris, she moved her blade to her side where he aimed to see sparks fly up allied with a loud ear-piercing clang. The force of the attack nearly made Iris lose grip of her sword, but she managed to keep his blade from harming her.
He chuckled before pulling the sword back, and thrusting it toward her. She moved her blade to the front of her quickly, but only to find it was a trick. Instead of stabbing her, he pulled the blade back and sent his weapon upward against her sword and knocked it out of her hands. He caught it, before throwing a hard swing with his new sword. Iris yelped and she ducked.
"That was a cheap trick!" Iris shouted.
She hated doing it, but she forced herself to send a heavy and quick kick to his gut, knocking the breath out of him. He bent over and held his gut with a wheeze, and she took advantage of this moment. She grabbed the sword back from his grip and backed away... "_{Sorry, Jace...}" She muttered.

"You little brat...!" The multi-voiced lad wheezed, before swinging his sword at her from the side. She pushed the sword away with her own. She was moving back as he sent continuous swings and slashes. He eventually had her to the throne room walls. The place guards were surrounding the queen and her son in a defensive manner, as keaton still laid whimpering, trying to stand. Skits honestly had no idea what to do, for he could only watch from the safety of a high place. He'd get slaughtered!

Iris' back pushed against the wall, making her jump. "Crap..." She uttered... She looked forward to see Jace give a heavy drop with his blade above her. She moved her sword above herself quickly, to hear another piercing clash. She pushed it back with all her might- which was a surprising amount! He pulled away quickly, and tried slashing at her side.
She attempted to stop the attack, but she was too slow. Moving her arm had obstructed the set target, but the blade sliced at her arm and she cried out, stumbling back and hitting the wall whilst holding her wound. She pushed him away with a solid kick to the knee, but it didn't do much aside from a moment of him stepping away in pain. She hissed under her breath naturally and glared. She was in pain, but she'd prefer a wound on her arm rather than a clear slice through her gut... At least the one on her arm wasn't as full of force due to a moving target. 'Don't leave your side open Iris, you need to remember that...' she thought.

She whimpered, before looking up to Jace with a hurt expression. But those cold, black and green eyes he had gave her the reminder that this isn't the real Jace. He'd never harm her. But still, she felt she couldn't return an attack, because it was Jace's body, but she'd probably have to eventually...
Jace didn't hesitate to send another stab forward, but she moved her head just enough to where the blade got jabbed into the wall. He was stuck now! She hopped to her feet and slashed her blade forward, and she sliced at his right arm just enough to make him stop. He reeled back in utter shock, not expecting Iris to make an offense-attack. It was the only way she could get herself out of that situation... He growled and yanked the sword out of the wall, quickly blocking her from escaping however... They locked blades shortly after. Iris twisted the sword, and tried throwing Jace's sword out of his hand like he did to Iris the last time they trained. But it did no good. Jace forced against her, and pushed her back against the wall again, enough that it hurt her back. Her hands began to tremble before the sword fell out of her hands and slid across the floor. Possessed Jace proved to be stronger than Iris, but this was understandable- she wasn't fighting a mortal entity.

Jace shoved his foot against her shoulder to hold her in place and he held the blade's sharp side to her throat. She sat on the floor and leaned against the wall panting, staring up at him in terror. Jace pinning her against a wall with a blade to her throat... She remembered something like this. But she had never been afraid till this very moment, because before, she lived and escaped her attacker. Every situation she could think back on, she always had an out. But this was Jace. Was she so scared that she was just panicking? She'd only given a moment's glance at her sword, which was too far for her to reach for. She knew Majora would have no problem killing her. The mind-controlled Jace snickered at her position.

"That wasn't a very good fight... Not very long either. For some reason, I was expecting so much more from you when I finally got to fight you... He always said you could fight even if you were weaponless, but so far you've been a disappointment. Before I kill you, do you have any last words?" He asked, moving the blade's sharp tip closer to her.
She breathed heavily and felt like a deer in headlights...
"Tick-tock my dear, your time is fluttering away." He added, sounding as if this was all a game.
Iris tried finding the words, her mind raced to figure out something to do. Before a sudden feeling had come upon her. Something in her was screaming to just yell for the one before her- the trapped soul of her dear friend. She couldn't tell if it was a voice in her mind or her heart, but somehow, she felt someone was reaching for her and calling her name deep inside. Was Jace reaching for her?

"Time's up!!" Jace wasted no time to thrust the blade forward.
"STOP!!!" Iris' voice cried out loudly. She pushed her hand to his hand on the sword, just barely holding off the attack. One wrong slip, and the sword would surely kill her. She weaseled out from under his weight and moved her free hand to his other arm to hold him back. "Jace, I hear you!! I-I know you're there still!! Please fight back, I know you're trying, but try harder!!" Her voice cracked and she pushed against the attack.
"Enough!" The dark voice shook.
"We can't lose after coming all this way, I'm not giving up on you!! Don't you DARE give up on me!! I love you and you know it, and I'm not afraid to say it any longer! There isn't a point in you knowing if I don't believe we can make it through this! Now fight it!!" Iris' soon broken voice growled.

"Stop this you wretch!! It's p-pointless!!" The multi-voiced response wavered, almost as if he struggled to get that reply out. His eyes were becoming glassy and he felt confused.
"I won’t let this be what ends you! And there is NO way I'm leaving this way either! I'm going to help you out of this!" She paused, before her hand began slipping "I need you to accept my reach Jace! I can help you!! Jace, I’m here… I’m right here…!!" Iris finished.
Jace’s eyes shot open! His eyes flashed and they met stares with Iris. Her own gleamed alongside his and they felt something… Something on the inside. It was as if their souls met and grasped. A force tugged Jace away from the darkness, and it was like nothing he’d ever felt. Something powerful fell over them both, and it was hope.

Iris' hand finally slipped, followed by a pained breathless grunt. Jace seemed frozen in place, his eyes still blackened- though on his visage was a look of pure fear, as if he'd just tried to commit the worst sin. His eyes were wide, and that expression screamed horror and regret. And unknown to himself, a tear barreled down his cheek. Iris' terrified gaze soon fell to the pained area. Jace forced the impact of the blade to go off and instead of stabbing her, it left a cut down her side. It was deep, but nothing compared to what she was about to suffer before. She grabbed her side, and leaned over. Her eyes had become glassy as well, for she was terrified and thankful at the same time.

Jace was still in his frozen state, before his hand began to twitch. "What's happening to me...?" He dropped the sword, before falling to his knees after taking a single step back. A painful groan sounded from the possessed lad.
"No, no, not now!! I was only just now figuring it out!!" He roared angrily, before gripping his head. "NO STOP!!"
Iris watched in confusion. She grew wide eyed when Jace's body began glowing in a dark aura. It wasn't the same as before. It was a dark and ghostly blue rather than black. It soon became rimmed in a light blue, before the aura shot out in a bright X-shaped light and disappeared. Iris stared for a moment as he grew silent, then Jace fell to the floor. A new black aura arose from him. This one, she recognized. The aura was lifted across the room, before falling at the center of it and began forming something. It looked like an incomplete heart shape with eyes. It twitched and moved across the floor weakly.

Iris' attention was brought to slight movement in front of her, soon noticing Jace was looking up toward her again. She was afraid of what she'd see, but fear simply vanished when the calming, lantern look was back in his eyes, sharp and attentive. She saw a small wet mark on his face where that single tear had fallen.
"Babe-...?" He muttered deeply. He looked down at his hand that was laid over the blood-bathed sword, before looking up to see Iris staring him back as she remained pushed to the wall. An off color drew his gaze to her hand where it sat over the deep wound on her side. He was trying to catch up with the moment, before truly realizing that she was bleeding badly. The sap stained her shirt and dropped onto the floor. There was yet another smaller wound on her arm. He grew confused for only a moment, before having the slight memory of what had occurred earlier, and even saw what transpired moments ago.

She remained quiet and took a deep breath...
"Oh... Iris..." Jace's voice finally began sadly. "What have I done...?"
"... I'm not dead, am I?" Her voice cracked, trying to sound a little happier. Though the startled sound was still there.
His leaves drooped and he sighed. He looked to his chest, when Iris' own slowly began to fixate on his chest as well, almost looking terrified. The old scar he had before was slowly growing back. Instantly, and he felt his energy dropping.

"_{I-I may not have c-control over you any longer, but I will see that you die for ruining my fun...}" The messed-up creature at the center of the room spoke. "_{You only lived because I lent you my energy, fool.}"
Jace growled under his breath and his eyes slanted sharply in a glare. He rose to his feet- which was now proving to be hard, thanks to his lost energy again. He turned, giving the monster a cold glare. He lifted his sword with him, just barely dragging it's tip onto the ground. Iris got up with him, worry all over his face...

Jace walked to the monster with Iris by his side, who was now squirming to get away, but its weak and incomplete looking body made that hard. "Then I guess I-I won’t have any problem killing you, will I?" Jace hissed. "Such a sorry looking demon you are, you're not even complete. Even so, you caused so much trouble." Jace rose his foot and stepped on the monster's only face, and it screeched at him. He held it in place and attempted to raise his sword. However, the pain on his chest made him exclaim and the weight was too much. He kept trying, but the weight had him at a standstill.

"_{No, don't!}" The creature cried. He saw Iris tower over next to Jace, and for once, the monster was scared. He, the great demon Majora, was below two deku scrubs... They were so tiny and helpless when he was a dragalfos, but now... He looked up, seeing what appeared to be vengeful souls staring him in the face with dagger-eyes, and his power was gone. His first victim fifty years ago… The deku child… The deku race were to never be taken by him again… After attempting to take a deku as his last, this would be over. Their spirits glowed eerily from under their leaves, and there was nothing but hate and disdain in them.
Iris noticed Jace's struggle, and she helped him lift his sword- much to his surprise. He looked her in the face, and she nodded at him. Together, they rose the sword above Majora... Iris was afraid that this would kill Jace because of his and Majora's connection, but at the same time... She felt this is what needed to be done.

"Time's up, you cur." Jace growled. The pair thrusted the blade down into the creature, impaling him. As the creature squealed and cried, Jace merely moved back, leaving the sword. His old wound that was now coming back was affecting him, but that stab didn't. Iris was now confused, but Jace held no concern. He had an empty look on his face, and it wasn't one he normally wore. But that look slowly grew into one of relief.

"No, I had a chance! I was coming back!! I was going to have my revenge on this world, I was going to be complete again!!!" The creature slowly began to fade into a dark energy, before that energy began to disappear. In Majora's place, was a broken fairy orb- the only thing that had been keeping him alive. A weak light rose from the orb and floated out of the palace, which was presumably the fairy herself.
"_{You're f-free now, Great Fairy...}" Jace took a deep breath. He was now forcing himself to stand against the immense pain in the wound on his chest, before finally, he fell to his knees and hit the floor.
Iris leaned down to him in horror, trying hard to keep him awake. Auran, growing tired of the guards protecting him, pushed through to run to his adopted brother's aid. The queen was soon to follow.

Keaton limped to them in a hurry, and he looked over the lad.
"Jace, get up!" Auran called. Iris held her hand over her snout, before looking at Acacia in panic.
"T-That wound, it's killing him!" Iris cried out.
The queen barked toward her guards- "Don't just stand there, get him to the infirmary!!"
The keaton looked over Jace, sniffing him for a moment. Iris began- "I don't get it, but how did it come back!?"
"He didn't receive this scar as Majora, he received it as Jace. When Majora was forced out of him, he returned to normal... It's worse than when I saw it before, this boy needs help." The keaton answered.
"But how was he forced out of him!?" Iris added.
"You don't know, child...?" The Keaton lowered his head. "I guess we'll find out someday... Or maybe not..."
Guards surrounded them and picked Jace up. Iris reached briefly, before having no choice but to let them carry him away. She sat on her knees and watched. She'd only just then got him back, and there he was being taken from her again.
"He's tough, he'll get through." Auran tried to comfort Iris. "Nothing could kill him."
"One would believe that..." Iris muttered.

The keaton turned to Jace's rucksack. It was glowing. A kind voice began calling to Keaton from the bag. He limped over, and opened the rucksack to see the other fairy's orb glowing brightly and purely. He reached in and took the orb out, before looking to Iris. Her attention was caught by the glow.
He replied,. “It's over now, Iris.”
Iris nodded, then responded. “Where are you going?”
“'I'm going to return the Great Fairy to her shrine in Ikana. I’ll be back in the morning.”
“But you're injured...:” Iris stood while holding her side.
The keaton chuckled his breath. “Don't worry about me, I heal quicker. You're not looking too good, you should have that wound checked on.” He soon trotted out without another thought, before promptly vanishing in the main hall...

"Come now, let's get you cleaned up..." The queen walked up behind Iris, making Iris jump. The lass nodded, and followed the queen through one of the throne room's doorways.
"It all happened so fast." Iris mumbled.
Acacia looked down at Iris. She honestly had no idea what was going on, and didn't completely understand what happened back there. But after seeing Jace kill that monster, she felt things would be better now. Iris was expecting a happier ending if they did win. Skits was soon to fly in with her, and land next to and follow Iris on the floor.
Acacia lead her into a room similar to the one Jace was in before. Iris was dreadfully quiet until the queen asked her- "Will you be alright, my dear?"
Iris looked up. "I don't know. If you mean my side, then yeah."

"If it makes you feel any better, Jace is being taken care of right now, and I'm sure he'll be back to his old self soon." The queen smiled.
Iris looked down, and found herself deep in thought. From the start, Iris felt she was the reason for why everything happened and ended this way. She wanted to stay in Termina, but a thought arose in her mind. 'Would I just cause more trouble if I stayed?' She honestly couldn't make up her mind anymore. She looked forward. The queen was going to fix up Iris' wound herself, seeing as all her guards weren't here to help.

"You shouldn't be worrying about me." Iris spoke.
"Nonsense. You've been hanging out with that boy for too long, you are starting to sound like him." Acacia responded. Iris looked away. She winced when she felt something touch the wound on her side and kept her gaze off the subject. She had a way of looking at a wound, realizing how bad it is, then it making it hurt worse. This was the longest night in Termina it seemed. And there was still so much she wasn't looking forward to, such as her new decisions that she'd left unspoken. 'Should I return home? I know he wouldn't like it, and I certainly wouldn't. But if I stay, I'd only get in his way. He'd never find that cure...' "OW!"
"Sit still darling, it's going to hurt a little." The queen spoke kindly.

Hours passed and the night had gotten deeper. Queen Acacia had finished up and left Iris to get some rest. She couldn't sleep however, she was still wide awake thanks to that fight. It wasn't long, but it was stuck in her mind and haunted her. She still had a hard time believing it was over... But it was.
She turned over to stare at the wall, before finally getting up and walking to the far side of the room. She looked out the round window and out onto the swamp water below. The room she was in was a few stories higher. You could see a lot of the swamp from there. The moon shone down brightly on the water, making a lovely scene below. "... The fairies have returned at least." She felt a calmness fall over her when she noticed all the beautiful green plants around the swamp. From the little moon light, the lush colors were so beautiful. It reminded her of her old home in Lost Woods- excluding the water and palace and kind deku scrubs. She soon turned back to see Skits puffed up on a small tree branch that was growing through the wall. She set her gaze outside once more, before finally speaking lowly. "_{I have to go home. Termina's nice, but... I'm an outcast here... So far, I've only caused him trouble… When I leave, he can heal and not be bothered by the dragalfos anymore.}"

She walked back to the bed, before laying down on it. She closed her eyes. Eventually, after finally growing tired after who-knows how long she'd laid there, she surrendered to sleep. She wasn't looking forward to tomorrow...




DAWN OF THE FINAL DAY


The guards were running back and forth through the palace that morning, excited and thrilled. Iris stepped out and into the throne room, and seemed confused as to what was going on. She looked ahead and toward the main hall to see little Princess Aritha crying and hugging a small monkey. She'd soon remembered that when she first met the queen and Aritha, that the queen said the princess' friend, a monkey, had gone missing. She assumed he returned because the swamp was coming back to life now.
"My princess, I'm so delighted for you~!" A guard jumped.
"_{The little monkey, where has he been all this time!?}"
"Thank the heavens!"

Iris smiled at everyone's excitement. She figured since it was done and over with, it was best to leave them alone instead of walking up and asking questions.
Iris then froze, realizing her little animal companion was gone. Probably fluttering around the palace somewhere...? She stopped to land her gaze on the doorway where Jace was taken. She stared for a moment. She was about to go visit the fairy, but she couldn't resist the urge to at least walk in and check up on him, if he was there.
She sighed, letting herself step through. She hoped a guard wouldn't notice, since you needed authorization to pass.

The walkway was empty as she approached the room. She wandered in slowly and peeked down the row of cots. He appeared to be okay and just sleeping. His entire torso and chest was wrapped in fresh new bandages, though. He wasn't looking as bad now that he was wrapped up. She walked up to him, still looking around for any guards. She'd found a little ball of black feathers laying next to him on the bed when she was near.

"Skits?" Iris chuckled lowly. Skits' head rose up, and he instantly flew to Iris. But after landing on her head, he kept looking down on Jace with a worried face. Iris looked over him as he slept... She reached to move the leaf over his eye away, but stopped herself. She didn't want to disturb him. Iris soon looked down, before saying. "Have yourself a good sleep. I gotta tell ya', we had a crazy five days, huh?" She smiled at him. "... I'm afraid it's time for me to say bye, though. It's better this way. You and I both know we have things we need to be doing..."
Skits looked at her like she was crazy. Why was she suddenly changing her mind again? He wanted her, and she wanted him too…

"I'm just some crazy Hyrule deku scrub. And you have your own things to worry about." She paused, taking a deep breath. "... I love you Jace… And please… Remember your promise to me. Never stop living." She really didn't know what to say, but she figured she'd leave while he was asleep. She hesitated, but she nudged her snout to the side of his face before she rustily left the room, finally making it through the throne room and passed the guards in the hall. Skits sat on her head, looking back into the palace as if he didn't want to leave.

"C'mon little buddy. We're going home." Iris hopped onto a lily pad, and she made her way toward the large deku flower that would take her to Woodfall. She dove in, and shot back out toward an opening in the wall. On the other side, she was elevated high above the swamp on the top of the large tree-like plants, which in the center-top of each one, there was a deku flower buried. She'd taken each one. Every time she landed on the next flower, she kept expecting to see Jace waiting on the next one. Mostly just memories of the day she'd met him. She eventually made it across the large gap between the waterfall to meet with a small cave-like opening. On the other side, stood the place where Woodfall temple would be, but she took the walkway around the large pool of water to a cave at the far edge of the area.

Iris froze, realizing that the fairy was probably back by now and at full power. She figured Keaton probably got the Ikana fairy back safely. She'd remembered at the start of all this, the little piece of the Woodfall fairy had told her, that in order for her to be transported home, all the fairies needed a connection. The lass forced herself to continue into the cave. It was still torn apart, but the Fairy Fountain was glowing and sparkling.

"Great Fairy?" Iris called. A bright light formed in front of her to heed the call. Soon the light shifted into the form of a being, and before too long, took the form of a tall beautiful woman.
"Iris?" The Great Fairy spoke with question in her tone. "What brings you to my fountain so early young one...?"
Iris scratched her head, looking regretful. "... I request to go home, to Hyrule."
The Great Fairy was actually quite surprised. "Are you not happy here?"
"That's not it... I just... Please, just let me go home..." Iris got a knot in her throat. Skits could sense it, Iris was distraught.
"If that is what you wish. But I never was able to give you my thanks, Iris... Thanks to you and Jace, Termina's safe."

"Jace is the only one you should be thanking. I only got in the way, several times." Iris wiped her eyes.
The Great Fairy laid her hand over the center of the water in the fountain. The water rose, and formed into a large light. "... Stepping through here will take you home. Are you sure about this, little one?"
"I'm sure. I can always come back, with the help of the Hyrule fairies, right?" Iris perked up slightly. Skits looked overjoyed and hopeful.
The Great Fairy shook her head. "... I'm afraid that once you go back, you cannot return to Termina, at least not this way... Even this alone is against our duty. Once you are home, we are not allowed to open a road for you again..."
"What!?" Iris exclaimed. She shifted her gaze to the portal and the fairy a few times, before looking at Skits…

"Is this what you wish?" The Great Fairy asked.
After much thought, she finally made her decision. She sniffled and looked the woman in the face. "... Yes." Skits' wings dropped to the floor, looking disappointed... But he followed as Iris forced herself to walk toward the portal. She stepped her foot in slowly, holding back tears. As sad as she was… It didn’t feel like a mistake. It was like she was fighting against someone else- whom was pulling her back and screaming for her to stop. She was so torn, she didn't know what to do or where she belonged.
"I can’t let you do that! Not yet..." Spoke a sincere tone behind her. She jumped and her eyes grew wide. Skits turned, and Iris followed this action.

Iris set her eyes at the entrance of the fountain, where a figure stood in the light. They walked in shortly after.
"You idiot! You're supposed to be resting!!" Iris scolded.
The Leavance boy smirked, and replied sarcastically, "I'm thrilled to see you too~!" and upon this, Iris simply glared.
"What's all this nonsense of trying to sneak off?" Jace questioned, his eyebrow raised. "And there's a better way of keeping someone from knowing; don't walk in and tell them bye."
"You were asleep though!"
Jace laughed- which only hurt his chest, but he managed to ignore. "Just like when you thought I was dead before?"
Iris huffed and looked away.
"Iris... You said you wanted to-"
"I know what I said!" Iris cut him off. "But now I just want to go home."
"No you don't, I can tell. You're crying." Jace had a sad look on his face and he walked in further. He stopped in front of her.
Iris growled. "Haven't you ever heard of If you love something enough, you'll let it go...?"
"That's just it, I love you too much to let you go. At least… Without telling you bye first. At least give me that luxury." Jace chuckled in response.

"Ah…” she replied with a small blush. “Well… I’m still going.”
Jace put a hand on his hip. "Can I at least get a goodbye hug or something...? You’re being very misleading here..."
"I don't belong here, okay? You've got things you need to worry about."
"I couldn't care less. What happened to all those things you said last night? About 'Oh Jace, I want to stay! I love you!'?"
Iris' face flushed... "It was fear talking!"
"You love me." He barked, looking away with a glare as he said so.
"Yeah, so?"
"Wow, you have no idea what you're doing, do you?" Jace shook his head. Even Skits was shaking his head.
Iris looked away and she held her hand tightly to her side as she balled her fists. "Would you forget me and just go back to finding that stupid cure!?"
He brought his attention back to her... "That's what this is about? That is not what I care about right now..."
Iris mumbled under her breath, before responding. "You should care!"
"And you could at least give me a solid answer and let me know what you really want to do." Jace added.
"It’s none of your concern of what I do." The flustered girl replied angrily.
Jace shrugged. "Yeah? Well, I think it is... Fine, you know what? I won’t let you go till you tell me the truth."

"DO you like me, or don't you? You're confusing me here..." Jace dropped his hands.
"Ughhh! OKAY! Yes, I do! You already knew!"
"Then why are you leaving?" Jace smirked.
Iris closed her eyes and growled. "I don't know! I-I'm just... Confused! And it's... Just... Hard to say."
"Why? There's nothing to be confused about, and it's as simple as you calling me stupid." he replied lowly...
"Oh really!?" Iris added.
Jace responded. "Yeah."
"Prove it! Last I remember, the first time I heard you say it, it was Keaton making me listen to your thoughts! You didn't seem to thrilled about it, because you were too cowardly to say anything. Prove to me that you're as brave and courageous as you like to make everyone believe, prove it right here, right now! Treat me like you just met me!"
Jace stifled a laugh. "How do you expect me to do that?"
"I-I don't know!"
Skits put his face to his wing... They were getting nowhere at this rate...

"Well?" Iris spoke up, as if expecting him to do something.
"What do you want me to do? I can't read your mind!" Jace finally exclaimed. He was getting irritated now, there was no reason there should be THIS much of a problem with whether she left or not.
"Fine! I'll do it!!" Iris' voice rang, sounding rather frustrated herself.
Jace looked confused and he wrinkled the top of his snout a slight in response. What was she talking about? But she reached for him and grabbed him by the hand, shocking him. The lad gave confused responses whilst she literally yanked him toward herself. His leaves twitched and rose when Iris pushed her snout to his.

Skits honestly wasn't expecting her to do that! He had a dumbfounded look on his face.
Iris had closed her eyes before she'd done it, as if fearing she couldn't do it- but she did it. Jace's eyes were wide as they could be and he was practically seeing stars. Regardless, he stared hard at her, trying to register what has just happened. It was better than when they kissed in Ikana, because she actually meant it! He didn't know if he was still asleep, and just thought he was awake. What if Iris already left? What if Iris stayed and is waiting for him to wake? No, this is too real, but WAY too unreal at once. Jace's eyes eventually closed, before relaxing. Skits was still staring, with his beak agape…

Iris pulled away, her face was red and her heart pounded... She didn't know how he'd react. Jace breathed deeply and could only stare at Iris in a dumbfounded way and with a dazed mind, wishing she wouldn't have pulled away so soon... He really wanted to do that again, since he kinda got lost in paradise there for a second...
Iris looked down, then looked back up at him and answered embarrassedly. "... I was expecting you to kiss me... Because, y'know... I know you have been wanting to. Sometimes, you can be real thick in the head, y'know?"
Jace still stared, before taking one final deep breath. He tried to reply, but it came out as an unintelligible mumble.

"What was I thinking...? You're nothing without me..." She chuckled.
"Does that mean... You're...?" Jace began, the end of his response dragging as if waiting for her to cut him off.
Iris interrupted, just as he was expecting. "Staying? I'm afraid so..."
With that news, a smile appeared under his eyes and he tried desperately not to hug her in a panic, and held back that urge. She did it for him, and hugged him tightly. This of course made his wound hurt, but he tried not to respond on it. "_{I owe you so much... Thank you... There's no way I could repay you for dealing with me... I hardly did anything for you, Jace. Why you want me with you is so far beyond me, but I'd be glad to stay if you want me to.}"
Jace froze, before slowly returning the hug. He couldn't believe what was happening right now... "It's no problem. You have no idea how much it means to hear you say that. And you won't miss home at least a little?"

"I am home." She moved away and looked him in the eyes with a smile. She reached up to move the leaf out of his eye, getting a clear look of his face. But as soon as she moved the leaf, she reeled back in shock. "JACE!!"
"What!?" he exclaimed with a jump in his pose. It startled him and he moved away.
"Your birthmark, it's, it's-!!"
"It's what!?" Jace seemed scared. He rose his hand to try and feel the area next to his eye, praying to the gods that the thing wasn't covering his whole face or something.
"GONE!!"

In the middle of his panic, his eyes widened and he lowered his hand. "... Gone...?"
Iris didn't know if it was bad or not. Jace moved away in a hurry, before falling to his knees and looking at himself in the reflection of the Great Fairy's fountain water. It was cleared up, no sign anything was ever there near his eye... He threw water on his face, and looked into it again, not being able to believe it... Come to think of it, he noticed that he hadn't had a headache since yesterday. And from how frequent they were for a while, it surprised him. He was speechless. A knot grew in his throat as he slowly rose to his feet. He finally had the freedom that his long-passed ancestors searched for... It was a crushing weight suddenly off his back. He turned back to Iris in a rusty manner, and his voice cracked. "I'm... Cured."
Iris stared... "Wha-? How?"
"I-I don't know." He looked at Iris, before remembering their kiss. "Was it that kiss!?"
"It couldn't have been, we've kissed before!"
Jace was stuttering. "You're right, b-but what if it was because you kissed me, n-not because something made you!?"

"I'm afraid she's right Jace, it wasn't the kiss."
Iris completely forgot the Great fairy was there... She'd seen everything. Iris looked away slightly as her face flushed, covering her face momentarily from the Great Fairy's view.
"But it was Iris." The Great Fairy added.
Jace was frozen in place, but his hands trembled and his eyes were glassy. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. "H-How Is that possible!?"

"Last night, I saw everything. It was the breaking of your curse that lead Majora being released from you." The Great Fairy replied. "Majora knew that Iris was the key to his freedom and that she had what you needed to break the curse. He had the whole thing wrong however. He knew about your curse Jace, and he knew the one who set it upon you and knew its cure all along, but he didn't have the power to break it himself. When you almost died yesterday, he took over you and had slain the dragalfos, making it look like a battle to the death. He tried to make her break your curse so he was no longer chained to you for death, but it was only half-hearted and the cure was not activated."
"But why'd he try killing me if I could help?" Iris asked.

"Majora made a slight miscalculation. He thought if you were to break the curse, him and Jace would be disconnected again. But when you injured Majora in his dragalfos host, you killed his only other host. That body he had before did die, but shortly before, he used the small connection with Jace's curse to move to Jace's own before he could perish with his old puppet. If you would've healed Jace then, Majora would have no choice but to be released, and he realized that just as it was too late. So he was only desperate to live at that point. He was going to kill you to stop that chance- regardless of the curse killing him still. Safe to say, Majora was at the end of his rope, grasping for even one chance to have vengeance on this world. He is the one who caused Moonfall those many years ago, but that was when he was full and in his prime power... And children, you have just stopped his second chances of regaining any of this. What was left of his soul today is now completely gone. We will never see Majora again."

"... That's... That's so much to take, I-I mean... I'm so confused, what was my cure exactly!?" Jace asked in a stutter.
The Great Fairy smiled upon Jace's happiness. "My dear boy… Your personal demons are your curse. You hold yourself below everyone in this world, so much you can’t even love yourself. It has caused you so much strife, desperately hoping to never be like the man who did this to your family. To not be selfish, and to not steal other’s time. Loving yourself and believing yourself worthy of the people’s love is like pulling teeth for you. And my boy… You finally reached out for someone when you knew you needed it. Iris was the push you needed. She reached for you, and you accepted her call. Jace Leavance is free. You did what no one in your family could do, and that is rise above their demons."

Jace was speechless. "It was... Her. I mean, well, us..."
"She was left here to help you Jace, not us... She was sent to help save Termina."
Iris was without words... She remembered the blue aura from Jace yesterday... So, that was the breaking of the curse? She brought her hand to her face in complete disbelief. All this time, she was a part of something so much bigger.

The lass turned to look at Jace- whom looked like he was about to cry. "I'm going to live." he muttered... He turned to Iris, tears welling up in his eyes- the dam was breaking. "I'm going to live, I-I've got a life to live!!" He picked Iris up and swung her, before putting her back down. It spooked Iris, as she wasn't expecting it. The lass looked into his eyes, tears rolling down his face. These were tears that had waited years to fall, and Jace had never felt so happy and overwhelmed in all his young life. He grasped her hand tightly, before his head drooped slightly. His shoulders were shaking and his heart was racing, and he couldn't catch his breath- he was crying too much. "Thank you, thank you so much, thank you!!"
"I-I..." She didn't know what to say. But the moment was so intense, that she herself felt like crying.
"Can I do this?" He asked frantically, looking her in the eyes.
She soon questioned- "D-Do what?"
He leaned forward pressed his snout to hers briefly, before pulling away. Iris pulled back slightly upon him also pulling away. He was practically vibrating! "A little late for an answer." she laughed.
"I'm alive!!" He threw his arms in the air. "I can't believe this, my father, he looked everywhere! I did it- No, YOU DID IT! YOU'RE AMAZING!!" He was sobbing at this point, and he kept putting his hands to his face. Iris never thought she'd see Jace lose himself in tears like that, but here he was... She didn't blame him, however...
"Careful, you'll give yourself a heart attack!" Iris chuckled.
He pulled Iris into a hug. "Thank you!!! Oh my gods... Years... Generations... There was so much suffering, so much pain, so many lives lost. My kin, my life, everything is saved. Everything has been reset, my family can live on!"

Skits looked up to the Great Fairy, and his little mouth was quivering. She chuckled at him and said, "Are you crying?"
The little black bird gave a birdy- "Yeah." and watched in complete awe. Was this really happening??
"I love you so much, Iris... And I know I always have, and I always will..." Jace added, seeming relieved. "You... Don't understand what I am feeling right now."

Iris looked to the Great Fairy. "Cancel that ride home... I'm staying..."
The fairy gave a soft smirk. She touched the portal, and it dropped into the water below. "I thought you may say that. This is only the beginning of your journey." She walked to the center of the fairy pool to make her leave, seeing as she was no longer needed. "I'll be resting for now... Don't hesitate to come by if you need anything. Of course, I'm always free for visits as well."
Iris raised her hand. "Thank you, Great Fairy." Iris nodded. She vanished in a light, leaving Iris, Jace, and Skits to turn to one another.
Iris wiped a tear from Jace's face. "Well... What now lover-boy?"
He took a deep breath, trying to calm down... He looked off at the side of the fairy fountain to wipe his face, and his eyes momentarily focused on a peculiar rosebush at the mouth of the cave... Was... Was that there when he walked in earlier? He didn't remember it. It was a golden yellow with red speckles, and every flower on it was bloomed... Iris snapped her fingers, catching his attention again. "... We need to find you a place to stay." He chuckled, as he grabbed her hand. He still couldn't believe this all happened. "It's a dawn of a new day I guess, huh?" he finished with a small sniffle.
Iris smiled "It is, for all of us." She rubbed Skits' head as she said this.

They walked out and looked over the swamp. Jace was more than happy to see his home back to normal. And not only that, but to now share its beauty with Iris. And Iris knew it was the perfect time to start over and let herself be known for the real her- not the thieving Iris.
"Oh, hey... I meant to give this to you." Jace added. Iris turned to face Jace, to see him holding a lily in front of her.
She smiled and shook her head. "Stop picking flowers from the palace gardens..." She took the white and pink flower.
"I know you love lilies though." Jace winked. He was trying so hard to sound cool, though his face had wet streaks on them. Iris found it cute though. He was so happy, and that alone was very contagious...
Iris rolled her eyes. "I love ya, golden boy. I'm very happy for you..."
He leaned back a little and he lowered his eyebrows. "Golden boy? Where'd you pull that from?"
She chuckled before tapping one of his blond leaves. It gave off a small shimmer due to the sunlight, and she replied. "This thing you have on your head, that's where."






Till Another Tale...