"Are you prepared?" Ghirahim asked. "I don't notice any massive change in your appearance…"
"That will change." Majora retorted, continuing to stare down at the village. The two were perched high up in the trees above the village, able to see into the village, and at anything approaching from Hyrule field. His merciless eyes never left the village, scouting for the hero. "If he comes out, I'll wait for the opportune moment. Then, unleash my wrath…"
"That will be fun to watch!" Ghirahim leered. "But promise, don't kill him before I get to taunt and torture him. I want to hear his screams for mercy…"
"If he can scream, when I'm done with him."
Link woke up more relaxed than he had for a long time. Eyes slowly opening, he became of Ilia's head slumped on his shoulder, facing towards him. Link was enjoying how close they had become, especially after the previous night…
Shaking it out of his head, he worked his way out her arms, which were wrapped tightly around his midsection. "I must have really tired her out…" he thought, as she didn't move at all. Gently lifting his side of the blanket, he got up, and finally, changed into his Ordon clothes. He sighed as he finally put them on, glad to finally get out of the hero's tunic. He noticed Ilia's clothes thrown sloppily on the floor, and folded them half-neatly, placing them in sight of the bed. Quietly, as to not wake her, he crept down the ladder, and made himself a light breakfast. He left some out for Ilia, and went outside.
Stretching, as the first rays of sunlight hit his face, he marvelled at how light he felt. It had been a long time since he hadn't had a sword, shield and items on his back. His head shifted to the sun, peeking out over the treeline. He did a double take, as he thought he saw a figure's silhouette atop the treeline. Looking again, he saw nothing. "I'm getting paranoid…" he thought, shaking his head.
He heard his door opening behind him, and he turned his head. Ilia waltzed out of his house, and behind him. "Morning…" she breathed, moving in front of him. He moved his arms around her, as he nuzzled into her neck. "Same to you." He stopped, enjoying the moment. "This is the first time I've been able to enjoy a sunset for a long time."
"Really?" she asked. "Why's that?"
"Well, I kept having to get up with the sun, and each time I looked at the rising sun, I only thought about how many crazed monsters I'd have to kill that day." He gently gave her a squeeze, continuing. "It wasn't all fun and games, but there were beautiful places, making up for it."
"Like?" she inquired, snuggling into him.
"The peak of Death Mountain, Zora's domain… It's all beautiful, I should take you there…"
"I'd like that…"she cooed, reaching up for kiss. They were interrupted by the sound of approaching hooves, and they both groaned, as they saw two royal guards entering the village. "Great, why are they here?" Link moaned, breaking away from Ilia." Ilia gave him an imploring look. "Don't worry, if Zelda sent for me, I won't go today. Tomorrow or something…"
"Try and compromise…" she advised.
"Bah, what are they doing here?" Majora seethed, furious at how his plan had been interrupted.
"Patience…" Ghirahim urged. "Let's see what they want…"
"Sir Link?" one of the guards called out, as Link jumped down from his house.
"I suppose that's me…" he replied. "Am I needed?"
"Ha, her majesty thought you might say that!" the other guard laughed. "No, just delivering some things for your new 'title'."
"Really?" Link asked, cocking his head. "The knighthood was enough for me…"
"Her majesty wanted to give you a new outfit, saying you ought to change from green..." one guard said, reaching around and hurling a soft but heavy package at Link.
"Also, she said to deal with the demons…" the guard paused at the word. "You should have a suitable sword to deal with them…" With this, he dismounted, and got another package out. This one was obviously shaped, but wrapped tightly, with a note attached to the top. He handed it over to Link, who took it gratefully. "Pleasure meeting you sir Link!" he saluted, before mounting up. The two guards took off in small cloud of dust, blowing over Link. "Lovely." He thought sarcastically, before heading back up to his house.
He detached the note from the top of the sword-shaped package, setting everything else down around him. "What does it say?" Ilia asked, peering over at the note. Link read it quietly, so she could hear.
"Sir Link,
Having witnessed you battle those demons a few days ago, I was impressed at your talent, just as visible then as during your showdown with Ganondorf. However, I fear that separately, the light arrows will not be enough on their own to finish the demons. That is why I have gifted this sword to you, the other sacred sword of Hyrule, Excalib. Blessed by one of my ancestors with the light of the Triforce, may it give you the strength to drive back the demons once and for all.
My deepest thanks,
Princess (soon to be queen) Zelda"
"That was kind of her…" Link muttered. His attention was drawn to the package containing his new outfit, which Ilia had already started opening. "Sorry…" she muttered, as he chuckled. "Let me put this all on…" he soothed, kissing her. "I'll see this sword after that…"
Having gone inside to change, Link stepped out of his house, making Ilia turn around and squeal when she saw him. His new outfit was the same shape as the hero's tunic and made of the same equipment; boots, hat, gauntlets and all. However, it was mainly blue, with a few green trestles, reminding him of who he had been.
"Link!" she gasped. "You look…"
"Different?" he suggested. "I don't know. The colour might take a minute to get used to."
"I think it looks good…" she replied, smiling shyly. He smiled back, before picking up the sword, still in packaging. Carefully pulling the wrapping off, he was met by a beautifully ornate sheath, glinting silver. Ilia gasped as she gazed over it. "It's beautiful…" she whispered. "It really is…" Link replied, noticing the Triforce etched in multiple places. His gaze turned to the hilt, which was a sapphire blue, with a red grip. Intrigued, he slowly eased the sword out, stunned by its majesty. Unlike the Master Sword's distinctive shape, this sword, Excalib, at first glance had an ordinary design, tapering down to the point, which looked razor sharp, as well as the edges. Holding it out, he found it perfectly balanced in his grip, yet slightly heavier than the Master Sword. He then noticed the slight glow that the sword was giving off, illuminating his face. "Incredible…" he breathed, slowly swinging the blade. He clipped the sheath to his bed, and sheathed his new weapon. He paused, then went back into the house, retrieving the Ordon sword, his Hylian shield, and his equipment. Walking outside, he attached his bag to his side, as well as strapping his shield to his back.
He held the Ordon Sword out in front of him. "Seems like I won't need this anymore… I'll give it back to Rusl."
"Hopefully Colin won't get his hands on it." Ilia shuddered. "He's trying to be too much like you, you know."
"Is that completely a bad thing?" he replied, raising an eyebrow.
"Only if you make it so." She replied, biting her lip.
Link rolled his eyes, before she launched into him, staggering him. "Still got energy from last night then?" he teased in-between kisses. "Why don't you find out…" she taunted, deepening the kiss.
"LOOKOUT! RUNAWAY GOAT!"
Both jumped apart, startled at the sound. "What was that?" Ilia asked, looking around her. Link's eyes focused on the problem, a goat charging towards his home, with a red faced Fado in hot pursuit, while the rest of the village followed. Facepalming, he quickly jumped down from his home, and walked into the path of the goat.
"LINK! YOU'LL GET SQUASHED!" Fado roared, the goat pulling away. Calmly, Link stood his ground, bracing himself. The goat saw him as a target, and started lowering its horns and charging full pelt at him. A second before the goat collided with him, Link simply took a more stable stance and braced his arms, hands open. He grabbed onto the horns, and lifted. Bleating in confusion, the goat was left dangling by its horns, supported by an smirking Link. "Going somewhere?" he laughed, before dropping the goat back down, which calmed down instantly, and started nibbling on some grass in front of Link.
"Link…" Fado wheezed, walking up to him. "How the hell did you do that? He's the biggest one…"
"Meh…" Link shrugged. "I didn't want anyone hurt. Or worse, my new tunic ripped."
"Where did you get that?" Bo asked, whistling. "Looks expensive."
"Royal delivery." Link replied, before unsheathing Excalib partially. "Along with this, meaning you can have the Ordon Sword back Rusl." He sheathed Excalib, and handed Rusl the Ordon Sword.
"Link, you look amazing." He replied, gratefully taking the sword.
"I second that." Bo replied.
"I think you look repulsive." A voice spat behind them.
Link turned his head slightly to see who said that, before snarling and spinning around, unsheathing Excalib and the Hylian Shield. Majora's Mask hovered there, a few tendrils quivering. "You all might want to move back." He warned, which they all gladly obliged. No sooner had they done this, then a black wall of diamonds surrounded Majora and Link. "Ghirahim joining in?" Link growled.
"The pleasure of slitting your throat with my whips will be all mine!" Majora shouted, before pulsing. Link instinctively lifted his shield up, as he watched in horror, Majora sprouting arms and legs in front of him. The mask was now its body, as the limbs kept growing, thickening with each consistent pulse. A gaunt face now emerged from the top of the mask, a single eye staring at him.
Majora's Wrath stopped growing. Instead, it stretched its purple arms out, as whip-like appendages burst out from the ends. Link just stared at the sight before him, before being knocked to the ground by a barrage of whips, fuelled by Majora's rage. Link kept his shield raised high as he squirmed back, kept on the ground by Majora whipping relentlessly, one attack striking the goat that had got stuck in the arena with them on the throat, slitting it open. Watching the goat bleed out in front of him, Link turned angry, forcing himself up, and slicing Excalib at an oncoming whip.
Majora screamed as it connected, brilliant white light erupting from the strike. Link advanced, ducking and weaving more and more attacks, before Majora faked him out. Raising his shield to take the brunt of what he thought was an oncoming attack, Link found a tight tendril wrapping around his waist, before he was hurled off the ground, and headfirst into the diamond wall. Dazed, he staggered backwards, only to be hurled backwards by Majora's other whip wrapping around his leg. He crashed into the opposite wall, and barely kept consciousness, only clinging on by hearing the villagers scream in fear. Link lifted his shield, trying to find reprieve from the onslaught, only to receive a harsh whip to his exposed underarm, drawing blood.
"Panic not… Link."
Link's mind cleared suddenly as he heard those words. "Who said that?" he grimaced, ignoring the blood leaking from his arm. Majora had seemed to back off, inviting Ghirahim to teleport in front of Link. Ghirahim smiled, enjoying the sight of Link's blood. He extended his tongue, licking his lips. He looked as if he were to move in, only to stop and look in confusion above Link. Link peered upwards, and was stunned to see the golden wolf perched atop the diamond wall, snarling at the two demons. Lunging forwards, it leapt forwards in front of Link's slumped form, making Ghirahim back up.
"Come Link. We fight together".
Link nodded, and leapt up, re-energised. This turn of events had invigorated the villagers, apart from Ilia, who was cowering in Bo's shoulder, not wanting to see Link eviscerated. Link calmly walked up beside the wolf, and stared at Ghirahim and Majora.
"It seems you have a protector…" Ghirahim spat, whilst Majora brandished it's whips.
"Not as such." Link replied, smirking. "Skeletal form?" he thought at the wolf, who eagerly responded. "This should be fun." came the reply, almost relishing in the confusion opposite them. Link looked back at the demons. He saw the wolf start morphing out of the corner of his eye, and laughed internally at Ghirahim's eyes widen. "Wh… what?" he stammered, staring at the skeletal figure that appeared.
"No, no protector." Link yelled, as the he and the shade adopted an offensive stance together. "An ally".
A/N: 2v2 time in next chapter. And Link will finally learn of the hero's shades past, and who he was before. This should be fun…
