The Higher-ups
Geno and Zelda, who was carrying a still-sleeping Peach, stood atop a yellow star as it flew through limbo. It had been two days since the Fierce Deity had been summoned and "cured" Peach.
"So, are we going to see the Goddesses?" Zelda asked somewhat anxiously.
"Yes," Geno answered. "I need to speak with them. Things have gotten a little complicated… You might want to close your eyes."
"Why?"
"This part of the ride gets a little…trippy."
"How will you drive with your eyes closed?" she asked.
"Remember, this is only a borrowed form," he said. "I'm really a star spirit…of sorts." Zelda shrugged and closed her eyes. Even with her eyes closed, she could tell that the light was glowing or flashing from dark to bright. She began to hear strange, but full sounds. She could not help taking a peek.
Geno heard a thud behind him. He turned and saw that Zelda had dropped Peach. She had fallen to her knees and was staring ahead wide-eyed and drooling. "I warned you."
"Oh…my…Goddesses…" Zelda murmured. "So…beau…beau…pretty… My Goddesses… It's full of stars…" She was actually crying tears of joy. Geno had expected this. His training had always warned him that mortals would react this way. She was even reaching out to the infinite space, which somehow seemed so close. The dark corridor, or canyon, gave way to the radiance of a sun. The light at the end of this tunnel grew more, as if coming from a gradually opening door. The stars and colors around them began to streak into bands of light, as if Geno had accelerated beyond the speed of light. The Warp Star they rode began to shake. They flew into the light in a sudden bolt of unimaginable speed.
"…Ygsute se vagunct dyu loges mei Queen Shadow…" Geno spoke.
"Beai jai kontai vei joui," a soft voice spoke. "It looks like they're coming to."
Zelda blinked, finally coming to her senses. She wiped the drool off herself and looked around. Geno was standing beside her, while Peach was slowly waking up on her other side. They were inside what appeared to be an empty, outdoor lobby to a luxury hotel. There were beautiful fountains everywhere. Butterflies silently fluttered around flowerbeds. There were trees along the beige marble walls and a small stream winding through the room. A desk was on the far side of the room, but it was unattended. This room did not have any doors at all.
"Who is that?" Zelda spoke, standing up.
"I am the Goddess of Wisdom, Nayru," the voice spoke in a friendly fashion.
"Ah…uh…ooh…" Zelda began to feel faint and wobbled.
"Ah-ah-ah," Nayru scolded gently. "No fainting."
"Yes, my Goddess!" Zelda said, dropping to her knees and bowing.
"So pious," Nayru said. She appeared in the form of an azure-haired, sapphire-skinned, blue-eyed woman wearing a cerulean gown. She had a gold band around her forehead and was barefooted. She seemed quite petite. "Rise, Zelda."
"Yes, my Lady," Zelda said, standing up.
Suddenly, the plant life sprung into overgrowth and Nayru frowned. Vines spread along the walls. The trees began to cover the sky with branches and leaves, blocking out much of the sunlight. A gale blew through the room and petals fell everywhere as another woman appeared. Whereas Nayru had long, azure hair that stopped at her lower back, this person had even longer chartreuse, silky hair that dragged along the ground. There was more than enough of it to cover her complete nudity. She had a very shapely, fertile figure, further humbling Zelda. Her eyes were glowing gold. Her skin was brown and she seemed to be preoccupied.
"Si, si, me gusta…" She stopped speaking when she saw the others looking at her. Even Peach, who had not the energy to get up was staring at her. "What's going on? I had this space reserved for today."
"This is Farore," Nayru spoke. "Dear sister, we have guests from Hyrule and the Star Road."
"Then, take them to your own office," Farore said dismissively. "You're not the only one with work, you know."
"Ahem! They aren't de…" Before she could finish, electricity began to spark everywhere. Some of the plants actually burst into flames. Nayru sighed while Farore got a look of annoyance. A fiery hole burned into space and a golden woman stepped out. Her hair was bound into a short ponytail. She was perpetually covered in flames. Strangely, she had an extra pair of arms and blades along her wrists and back.
"Hey, Farore, I hope you don't mind if I…" she paused upon seeing everyone there. "What the hell is this?"
"Sisters!" Nayru almost yelled. "We have guests from the lower worlds."
"It's gonna have to happen some other time," Farore said. "I've got a date with Destiny."
"What happened to Fate?" Din asked.
"That bastard couldn't make up his damn mind," Farore spat. "And yet he thinks he's all-powerful like he's some kind of…"
"Ladies!" Geno yelled. "We don't have time for this. With all due respect…"
"Who are you?" Farore asked.
"This is the officer who guards the Star Road," Nayru said agitatedly. "This one on the ground is Princess Peach Toadstool of the Mushroom Kingdom. And you should know this one as Zelda."
"Which one?" Din asked.
Nayru groaned. "From Hyrule! You know! Hyrule the country, on the continent Hyrule, of the planet Hyrule…" Din and Farore gave her blank stares. "The one we made together and left the Triforce there for some damnable reason. I never liked the idea of leaving something that powerful amongst mortals…"
"Oh…That Zelda," Farore said. "The Triforce was your idea, Nay…"
"It was not."
"Yeah, it was," Din agreed.
"Why would I suggest something like that?"
"Some crap about using it as a symbol for all peoples of Hyrule to…"
"Ahem," Geno coughed and whispered, "We do have a mortal here who actually worships you."
"We're Goddesses," Nayru said quietly to her sisters. "Now, let's act like it, shall we?"
Din protested, "What could be so important that you…"
"Oh, I don't know…" Nayru said sarcastically. "Maybe an evil king getting his hands on a wish-granting relic of the stars, an evil sorcerer getting not one, but two pieces of the Triforce, both of them yours. Oh, and we might be having an early arrival from the Shadow Queen."
"Oh…" they said, looking stifled.
"Well, let's get into the act!" Nayru said. "Hylians don't walk around naked! Put some clothes on both of you." Farore whispered a few words to whomever she had been talking to and grew a very full bunch of viridian robes. It could pass for a cloak, since her figure was completely hidden. She looked very motherly now.
"How's that?" Farore asked.
"The colors…" Nayru said, pointing to her own.
"I thought we were Golden Goddesses," Din said, growing what looked like a stripped down version of a Gerudo's guarding uniform.
"Just coordinate!"
"Whatever," Farore said, turning her skin to a pale green. Nayru glared at her further. She sighed and grew a gold choker, while her golden eyes turned green. "Pull the stick out, why don't ya…"
"Your turn," Nayru said, turning to Din.
"Last time I checked, I was the unofficial leader," Din said, still engulfed in flames.
"That was two thousand years ago."
"Fine," Din relented. She now only had two arms and without blades. The flames ended, revealing her to have gold skin. Her ponytail grew longer and turned cerise, while her skin turned pink. Her eyes turned red as she folded her arms. She had a muscular build and was easily the tallest and largest of the three. Two gold wristbands were the finishing touches.
"Thank you," Nayru said. "Now, Officer, please continue."
"As I was saying before," Geno spoke, "I think that the Shadow Queen is behind all of the mess going on in the Mushroom World and Hyrule. I don't know whether she is manipulating Bowser and Ganondorf, or even if she is actually involved or not."
"Shadow Queen, huh?" Din said. "Well, relative to everything else going on in existence, she's won't be a serious threat to you all until well after she reawakens."
"My Goddesses," Zelda said, bowing her head. "Would you be so kind as to simply destroy or banish the evils that be? Everyone has already suffered so much and much blood has been spilled already. Please help us."
"I'm afraid it doesn't work so simply around here," Nayru said sympathetically. "We don't have prices and sacrifices made in our names, so it isn't as easy for us to suddenly make a divine act."
"But…you're the creators of Hyrule," Zelda said.
"And we love you dearly," Farore said, stroking her cheek. "However, you'd be surprised how many other worlds are in much greater peril."
"I saved over two million systems from complete destruction last week," Din said. "It has to be pretty urgent for us to make a blatant act."
"How urgent?" Zelda asked desperately. "Ganondorf getting the Trueforce?"
"Under different circumstances, yes…but…" Nayru said. "We are obligated to grant the wish of anyone who holds all three pieces."
"Even if he's evil," Farore added.
"Or makes us look bad," Din sneered.
"Zelda," Geno said. "Keep in mind that they would have done little if anything if the Fierce Deity had committed genocide against all beings of light. They aren't war gods like him. They are elemental. It's not so simple for them to go into action." He turned to them. "However, your guidance is not out of bounds."
Their gazes all moved to Peach, who was listening distantly on the ground. She was still in a great deal of pain and did not feel like talking.
"Have Peach go to the Wanderer," Nayru spoke.
"She should have something that will come in handy," Din said. "The Wanderer herself might even be able to help out."
"And somebody," Farore said, "needs to get the courage to go into the Dark World to get Mario and Link. Peach, Zelda, you two are going to have to be able to face Ganon and Bowser alone if the time ever comes."
"Considering what they've been through," Geno said uneasily, "I think it would be best if they avoided conflicts with those two. There's also the matter of the impostors, who've made some pretty brazen moves lately."
"I saw one of them," Zelda said.
"We're only saying that you should not count on Mario and Link to free themselves," Nayru said.
"Where is the Wanderer?" Peach asked in a pained voice. She looked very melancholy.
"We aren't sure," Din said.
"The Mushroom World isn't part of our jurisdiction," Farore said. "We never had anything to do with the creation of it. We just picked up the slack of whoever made it since it was just sitting there. The Dark Worlds are connected only because Ganondorf tainted the Golden Realm upon touching the Triforce. They weren't connected seven years ago."
"There were always gateways between your worlds however," Nayru spoke. "Since you used a Warp Star to travel through limbo, we'll take care of your exit point. We will give you and your companions appropriate warps if and only if they are needed. You have my contact information, but I'll still be busy. This very meeting required me to ask for a time freeze from Chronus, and that's not cheap."
"Understood," Geno said, nodding. "Your assistance is greatly appreciated."
"Oh, and it would be a good idea to stop violating the Forbidden Seal," Din mentioned.
"The Forbidden?" Zelda said. "That's what the Shamans told me…"
"Yeah, but it's not too big of a deal," Din said casually.
"I'm not familiar with that one," Geno said. "We've been violating this seal?"
"It's pretty simple," Farore said. "Just six easy rules."
"I think Merlon told them to us," Zelda said. "But they were vague and…silly. Especially the one about ketchup."
"Hmm," Nayru frowned. "According to my studies, the first rule states that no blood is to be spilled in the 'Land of Mushrooms.' That actually sounds almost as odd as the ketchup…"
"No," Zelda said, looking at Peach lower her eyes. "Bleeding doesn't happen in her world."
"That doesn't make any sense," Farore muttered. "Anyway, the second rule is basically that guardians of the Triforce, or Sages, aren't supposed to kill each other…Yeah."
"Yeah," Zelda sighed. "Next."
"Let no evil possess the Trueforce," Din spoke. "That's a bad thing regardless of whether or not it breaks the seal. Let Ganon get all three pieces and you can kiss your country goodbye."
"The third rule?" Geno inquired.
"Don't revive Oni from the Fierce Deity Mask," Nayru said, arching her eyebrow at Zelda.
"It was either that or let Ganon have the Triforce of Wisdom," Zelda said, unable to look her in the eye.
"Don't use the granter of wishes for evil," Farore said. "Is that for the Triforce or the Star Rod?"
"The Star Rod," Geno sighed. "That means we have two unbroken rules so far. What's the last?"
"None shall use the words of curse within the Mushroom World," Din spoke ominously.
"Do you know what these curse words are?" Zelda asked.
"We haven't the slightest," Nayru said defeatedly. "We didn't create this seal. We don't even know who did. For all we know, it might not even be in effect anymore."
"In other words," Farore said, "don't sweat it too much. Just keep the Triforce away from Ganondorf and you should be fine."
"I think we can take it from here," Geno said.
"No need to leave just yet," Farore said kindly. "Since we didn't act properly early on, we want to make it up to you. Usually we do this after a person dies…but we'll let you do it now. You can ask any question you want and we'll answer to the best of our ability." She wrapped her arms around her sisters' shoulders and pulled them closer, much to their annoyance.
"I don't have anymore questions," Geno said. "Peach?" She remained silent, but she had appeared to be troubled about something. "What is wrong?"
"She's thinking about her mother, among other things," Nayru said, breaking away from Farore.
"I see," Geno said, as Peach turned away.
"How does Link feel about me?" Zelda asked hesitantly.
"He's not sure," Farore said. "Only Ruto knows has a clue, but he does not."
"That's a strange answer," Zelda said.
"Is there anything that can stop the Shadow Queen if she gets loose?" Geno asked.
"At the very least," Din said, "you would need high-level divine or demonic powers. Fortunately, when she awakens, she will be severely weakened and at least somewhat vulnerable to mortal blows…assuming she takes a body… Still, you'd need something to bypass her aura. She is a demon after all. Light Arrows and the Master Sword are a good start. Presumably, the Star Rod would do good too. If you could recover the Star Spirits, you might be able to manage."
"Most importantly of all," Nayru added, "you must have faith. She is not unbeatable."
"One of our freelance angels actually went at it with her frequently," Farore said with a smile. "Keep in mind, it was the former guardian of the Triforce, but she and the Shadow Queen really hated each other. It's ironic that she disappeared around the same time the Shadow Queen did. Who knows? She might show up to fight the Shadow Queen for you. In the meantime, stay safe."
"Time to go," Geno said. "And this time, keep your eyes closed. Could you drop us off at Chai in Sarasaland?"
"Of course," Nayru nodded as the Warp Star carried them into a portal. "I expect good things of you all."
As Geno flew the Warp Star through limbo, he noticed that Peach was not making any effort to cover her eyes. She just sat there morosely, totally unaffected by the psychidelicvisuals around her.
"Aren't you feeling strange from seeing everything?" Geno asked.
Peach glanced up at him and looked back down to the surface of the Warp Star. "Just stars." There was bitterness and pain in her voice, almost as if she was about to cry. Her face was tearless though and her eyes were not watery.
"It's more than just your mother, isn't it?" Zelda asked, keeping her eyes closed. "What's the matter?" Peach said nothing.
"We're just trying to help, Peach," Geno said.
"It hurts," Peach said. "To talk…to move…to breathe."
"Don't worry," Geno said. "Once we get to Chai, we'll take you to a doctor to speed up your recovery. You should be able to relax there."
"What about the Shadow Queen? Everyone kept looking at me whenever she was mentioned… What happened while I was out? What happened…to Sheik?"
"It wasn't Sheik," Zelda said uncomfortably. "It was an impostor. It poisoned you and took you to Ganondorf. He found that the Triforce of Courage had chosen you…and he took it from you. The poison put you to sleep comfortably, but it was slowly killing you. It was made specifically to overpower your essence. Only divine magic could heal it…and the only divinity around was the Fierce Deity, a dark god I summoned to defeat Ganondorf. Ganondorf was defeated, but he escaped with my doppelganger. The only way to save your life was to agree to the Fierce Deity's terms. You will be sacrificed to the Shadow Queen to become her new body. You should expect it to happen in the late…"
"Don't tell me," Peach said, not changing her expression at all.
"But Peach," Zelda argued, opening her eyes. Her attention was quickly drawn to her surroundings. "You should know when…when…ze…bla…aaaah…" She was once again being reduced to drooling and staring into space like a blithering idiot.
"What she's trying to say," Geno sighed, "is that you should know when…"
"When I'm going to die?" Peach suggested. "If you made a deal with a god, it won't matter what I do to avoid it."
"Preparation will help you," Geno said.
"How would you like it…" Peach began before beginning to cough. "…How would you like to know exactly when you were going to die? To spend the rest of your life...just counting down until when it would all be over? Or even worse...to know when you'd become a slave...to a terrible force like that… It'd be like...It'd be like…" Her coughs became more violent.
"Take it easy," Geno said understandingly. "I understand." Peach persisted in coughing. When she finally stopped, she wobbled slightly and fainted. "Peach? Peach!"