"Wait
There's no mountain too great
Oh, oh, iyo
Hear these words and have faith
Oh, oh, iyo
Have faith
Hela hey mamela (Hey, listen)
He lives in you
He lives in me
He watches over
Everything we see
Into the water
Into the truth
In your reflection
He lives in you"-"He Lives In You" from Lion King II.
Chapter 5
Like Father, Like Son
~.~.~.~.~
Sacred Realm.
Sense the dawn of time this place was the path to StarClan's Realm-Celestial Valley. Within the Sacred Realm there is a snow white palace like temple that is bathed in a golden light, the stardust frosting the path way and the inside of the walls.
This is the Temple of Light.
Inside, not far from the chamber that was the Chamber of Warriors was a grand domed gold room with white silk drapes coming off three crystaline pillars made of emerald, ruby, and sapphire gemstones. And framing a stained glass window with the symbols of Power, Wisdom, and Courage that were flanked by the Elemental Warrior crests was the purest of waters flowing down with a gentle trickle of water against stone.
Perched on each pillar stood a she-cat with angelic wings of different coloration-one like a snowy owl, one like hylian hawk, and one like a dove. Their eyes lacked any pupils at all and strange markings of gold covered their faces as they gazed down to the moon bathed glow on the floor that came from the light overhead coming through a Triforce shaped hole in the ceiling.
Entering the temple a lone spirit of a solid green Shiekah with brown fore paws walked through the vast and sacred den. His eyes were a blazing cobalt blue and each had a single battle scar.
He bore his clan's crest on a simple black string to form a necklace that swayed with his even strides. Wrapped around his neck was a tattered, snow white silk shawl that many Shiekah cats bore. Even in spirit the Shiekah maintained the appearance he had before the fall of the Den of Hylia.
"Come hither to us,"meowed Couragestar.
"Light Foot Aron of the Shiekah Clan..."growled Powerstar, lashing her red tabby tail.
"One who has fathered thy sister's Child of Destiny's reincarnation."mewled Wisdomstar, ruffling her wings.
Aron moved forward as the Great Leaders had commanded. Why had they summoned him here of all places? He knew this temple had housed his son for two years when his kin was placed in a comatic state. But that was over where Raul and the other Elementals stayed. "Guess I'll find out."he thought, coming to stand in the center of the triangle formation of the pillars.
"Why have you called me here, Golden Leaders?"he asked impatiently, but still minding his manners.
"The Hero of Time has begun to awaken is real essence, the first lock to his past lives has been lifted. So..."answered Wisdomstar, pausing and looking at her sisters.
The triplets each smiled, their eyes flashing with a golden glow as they flared their wings, Couragestar swooping down to land elegantly on her paws in front of Aron Quicksilver.
"Go, pass down the Hidden Skills lost to the sands of time. Go and teach them to your son for many a danger draws nigh."explained Couragestar, swishing her tail.
Aron was wide-eyed at what he had heard and been told to do.
His son was yet again having death bite at his heels?
"Alright, but how will I teach him...let alone walk among the living?"asked the former healer.
This was when both Powerstar and Wisdomstar chuckled in perfect sink, amusement flaring in their eyes. The two took flight and each fired a beam of gold light at Aron, causing him to gasp, cringing from the intensity of the the impact.
Aron could feel the knowledge of the hidden skills that went back to Sir Raven's time period. And at the same time he felt like a restless beast on the prowl for its companion. A howl escaped him as he changed into a ghastly, golden wolf with crimson eyes.
"Now go! Go, and await the Hero of Time at the Forest Temple in Faron's domain our golden messenger!"commanded the three in unison.
And with that the golden, scarlet-eyed beast let out a howl and was gone in a shower of white star-shine.
Sweet merciful Wisdomstar, am I ever tired!
I guess fighting, running, swimming, jumping, and digging for over two days and nights straight tends to take its toll on a cat. I keep moving, just starting to leave the bridge behind me and before long, Ordon springs as well. It doesn't take me long to reach the small clearing where Zelda and I's summer tree-den was. But right now I'm also sad at the fact my father's bow is gone.
It was all I had left of him...minus my earrings of course.
But luckily I had recovered my Kokiri Pouch but all I had left was my tiny brown bag which held my rubees and the other thing was the medical kit Saria gave me last year after rescuing her from Phantom Ganon.
"I think I'll go see Uli..."I thought aloud.
I give my head a shake as my vision went out of focus for a moment. "Ok...that's not good. Either I'm more tired then I thought or another flashback is coming up."I thought. I give my shoulders a shrug and make way for the village.
I'm not used to seeing everything so damn quiet; it's like I walked into a ghost town! I look up to the cloudless sky overhead and I can see the morning sun is almost at its highest peak. I turn my cerulean gaze away and walk down the path towards Rusle's place.
But I stop at the stream to wash the mud off my paws and quench my thirst. I then continue on but the insomia is just too much for me to bare anymore. So, I allow the dark void to take me, letting me fall in the shade in the lush grasses.
I just feel way too jaded and sore right now to care.
Uli calmly pulled apart the brown drapes that served as her door to her den. The silver tabby was heavily pregnant with her second litter and she knew very well within another moon she'd be kitting, so, she never wandered far from the den.
Her slate stone colored eyes looked back over her shoulder with concern for Rusle. He had been badly wounded by those monsters that kidnapped Ilia and the kits and the princess of Hyrule. "StarClan and Great Leaders please bring them home safely...bring back my lil' boy safely."she pleaded silently, looking up to the sky. But as she moved down the path for the stream she spotted a green and brown long furred, battle scarred tom cat with a blue colored cloak of a knight collapsed on the ground.
With haste she raced over.
"Oh my..."she gasped at realizing who it was.
This was the young king-the hero that had vanquished the Evil King a year ago and had become Zelda's mate.
Without a second to waste she carefully grabbed Link by the scruff of his neck and took him back to her den. "Forgive me, sire for treating you so roughly."she thought, placing him on her and Rusle's bed, relieving him of his Fire Shield-Guard and his blue silk cape.
"The poor boy, he must have collapsed from his fatigue. He must have had had it rough searching for his daughter."mewed Uli softly, pulling a light blanket to cover up the young hero up to his scarred shoulder.
She'd let her king sleep.
It was clear he needed it anyways.
Slowly, she returned to the small couch where Rusle lay out cold and sat down on the floor to be by his side.
I slowly arose from my dreamless slumber around noon.
I find I'm in Rusle's den and that my cloak was removed along with my things, placed to rest in a corner. Slowly, I get out of the nest, remaking it.
I feel kinda silly here.
I must have passed out on the dirt road that ran through the village. I give my legs a good stretch as I yawned and then I started grooming my battle scarred pelt. I find myself humming the Song of Storms for some odd reason as I get my things, taking great care with my cloak.
How nostalgic this is.
I don't remember much about myself at the moment but I do remember this cloak was a gift from Zelda for my fourth birthday. I fasten the oval buckle on it and put my fire shield-guards back on my fore legs, flowed quickly by my Kokori pouch and my ocarina.
"Good morning, Lord Link."came a gentle female voice from the dining room.
I make way into the room, glancing at Rusle's sleeping form with concern. I quickly rub my face with my right paw, still a little bit groggy.
"Hey, Uli. I'm sorry if I worried you."I mewed, leaning against the door frame lazily as my tail swayed to and fro.
"I was worried at first, but you were only bruised a bit and plum tuckered out, sire. But I couldn't just leave you lying on the path like that. So, I brought you inside so you could rest more comfortably; you looked like you really needed it."mewed the silver tabby queen, cleaning up the den floor.
"That was kind of you, but I need to get going...I still gotta try and find my daughter, Lilda as well as Ilia and your son."
"Will you keep an eye out for the other kits too? Everybody is so worried about them."
I give a smirk at Rusle's mate, a impish twinkle in my cerulean eyes, "Don't have to ask me twice, Uli. I'll find them too. But first I need to stop at the Forest Temple...I've got something to take care of there."
Uli gave a nod as she watched Link leave the room and then the den. Slowly, she rose to her paws, placing one fore paw to her chest, head lowered silently in a gentle manner.
"...Thank you Lord Link."she whispered softly.
I calmly make my way through Faron Woods, loosing myself in what memories I could remember of my life 600 years ago. Only the most eventful and meaningful ones are not fogged or blurred or even not visible at all.
I don't mind, even if I'm still a lil' confused.
But I can't help but snicker at remembering that locked gate at the tunnel miles back. Locks mean nothing to me, normal ones anyways. "I've got aunt Nabooru to thank for that one."I thought as I stop at a small shop. My lantern needs more oil anyways and I need more healing potions...I'm running out here.
And that's not a good thing.
I take what I need and then left behind some purple rubees for the crazy parrot. I then packed the bottle of red liquid into my healing kit and the extra bottle of oil into my bag along with the empty lantern. I move back onto the path and towards the temple, but something catches my eye.
"A wolf?"I hissed as I took caution in my approach.
This wolf is glowing with golden star-shine and it's eyes are a scarlet hue. It really is interesting to see...if not creepy. And trust me, I've got life times worth of creepy things I've seen in my book!
The ghostly golden wolf spotted the tom cat in an instant as he approached him. With a snarl he went into a battle stance, and in turn Link followed to sweet. With a harsh, ear splitting bark the wolf pounced at the Hero of Time, taking them both away in a wash of white light.
"Ok, ouch~!"I groaned, rising to my paws as I shook my head.
I calmly start to look around where I stand. I find I'm in some strange realm of sorts that's covered in a thick hanging white mist. I can also see a huge castle with blue roofs. "Oook~! It just got weirder, but where's that wolf?"I thought with unease.
Behind the young hero the golden wolf sat, panting softly before changing its form. It became a green furred Shiekah tom with brown fore paws and glowing cobalt blue eyes with white pupils. He had no shawl over his face and instead a gold scarf graced his neck as well as gold shield guards on his legs.
I turned around quickly at hearing the canine's panting. There, standing before me is a green tom cat with brown fore paws. With haste I see him go into a battle stance and in turn I do the same. I leap at him, claws unsheathed to try and get a blow in.
But I'm sent flying to the ground by his counter attack.
"You've got a lot to learn, my son. Or rather...a lot to relearn."
"D-dad!"I yelped as I look up, still lying in a daze on the ground.
Aron gave an amused grin at his son, keeping his claws unsheathed. His son sure had grown but it seemed the Golden Leaders had been right. "He's forgotten the skills he had from his original life. We've got a long way to go!"he thought with a sigh, shaking his head.
"Claws and fangs hold no strength my son, unless the one that uses them has courage."he mewed coldly.
I get back to my paws, shaking the stars from my eyes, "Did you have to be so rough, dad? And I have courage, I don't got the Triforce of Courage for nothing ya' know."
"I know. You may be the reincarnation of the hero of legend...but your current power would put shame to your blue cloak that you wear, Link."spat Aron with an acid tone to his voice.
I give my father my signature Gerudo/Shiekah death glare at the fact he just called me weak. I can only stare at him right now, too speechless for words. "What's got his tail in a knot! He's more sharp tongued then Sapphire!"I thought bitterly
"Link, you must put your courage to use and use it to seek power...and find it you must with out delay! Only then will you be what you once were in skill. My son, if you do find your true courage, and you wish to protect Hyrule from the darkness that it now faces...then you will be worthy of the hidden skills I'm going to teach you; do you understand Link?"
"Yes, I have to get stronger if I'm to protect the ones I love."I mewed, nodding my head in agreement.
Aron gave a pleased purr at this, his expression softening to a fatherly love. "He's my boy alright, even if he is very...unique."he thought in elfin amusement. Patiently he awaited his son to take a battle stance. Once Link had done so he made sure to get some distance between them for safety measures.
"I'm sure you know already there are some enemies that take longer to defeat then others, recovering quickly even if stunned by a powerful blow."mewed Aron, flicking his tail.
I calmly give a nod as my answer to my father.
"This secret skill I'm going to teach you will help in defeating foes like that. It is called the Ending Blow. When a chance to finish off your enemy is before you, Link, simply unsheathe your claws and jump into the air without delay and deliver the final blow. Never hesitate to take the chance to end a battle this way."
"Alright."
"Good, now try it on me. And no need to worry, I'm already a spirit so I can't be killed."grunted Aron, quickly going into battle stance.
I give a nod and unsheathe my claws, hitting them against my father's own claws out of respect and sending the sound of clanging into the air. The two of us then leap back and get straight to sparing.
I dodge, he strikes.
He blocks and strikes, I duck and move away.
But after awhile I finally find an opening and take my chance to deliver a side slice with my left paw, knocking my father to the ground. I then leap into the air and point my left set of fore claws straight down and as they make contact they sunk deep into my dad's stomach and I can hear his haunting cry as I leap off.
Aron slowly got back up to his paws, bellowing in a bold laugh as he walked over to his son, sheathing his claws. With a fond look in the Shiekah's eyes he rested his bushy tail on his son's shoulder.
"Well done, well done indeed my son! The first hidden skill, the Ending Blow has been passed on. Do not forget my teachings to you, Hero of Time."purred Aron.
I can't help but laugh, purring in equal agreement and affection. With a sly grin I jump back and repeat the move I had down, this time striking the ground. I then sheathed my claws, facing my father.
"Will I see you again?"I asked.
Aron gave a simple nod, "I will return, there are still six left to learn. Those are only for the one that carries the blood of the Hero of Time...the eternal spirit of Couragestar's courage and bares the spirit of the sacred beast of Twilight. Learn and grow Link Hylia, put your courage to the test and when you find you need a new skill to overcome your trials...search for the stones that sing with the wind, seek the melody that awakens the golden wolf spirit to call for me."
"Alright dad, I'll remember that and I will grow stronger."I promised.
The vision soon begins to fade and as it did I can hear my father's voice, "Say hello to my precious granddaughter for me, farewell for now my child."
"...So, you're saying this temple is pretty much new?"
"Yeah, Saria wanted a new Forest Temple to be built. And to be frank about it...Zelda and I did too. So we had this built right into this tree."I meowed to Midna who's in her shadow form.
I've just gotten the Gale Boomrang, and I really am enjoying it. It is pretty neat I think, being able to twisters by just throwing it. But man, who's bright idea was it to make this place a stinking maze!
Oh wait, I did!
I continue on my way, pushing a wooden circle door aside. I enter the same chamber again which had the key locked away in a chest. That key lead to this temple's haven deep at the heart of the ancient tree's base.
I can handle normal locks.
I can handle puzzle locks.
Its those giant locks I can't handle too well...and this is coming from the King of Thieves/Hero of Time himself!
Midna gave an amused chortle as they reached the wind based puzzle, "Alright mister, hero, we can talk later. So, I'll catch yeah later!"
I give a nod as Midna vanished back into my shadow. I then pull the white and green boomrang out of my Kokiri Pouch and have it at the ready. This causes a ringing sound to course through the air as a small gale started to form.
I take aim at the four pillars with the tiny windmills in a zigzag pattern. Then I turned my head, boomrang gripped in my jaws and then gave it a good toss, setting loose the furry of a small twister of pale green.
"Bull's eye!"I purred as the wooden cage door opened up.
I then quickly leaped up, catching the Gale Boomrang, putting it away once back on the ground. I then ran over to the large chest and started picking at the lock.
Click.
I give a grin and pushed the lid off and snatched up the key inside. The key was made of blackened iron and at the top it had a red sphere. Zelda and I had this kind of key made for all the restored or rebuilt temples. "Zelda did always like mysterious things in small packages."I thought with amusement.
I then make my way through the rest of the temple, rescuing the four monkeys that are left. And kicking some monsters butts with a side of going bomb crazy. But now there was only one monkey left to fetch.
I'm a little beat up looking right now, scratches with a side of bruises here and there. But as I enter the room I can see webs on the floor and on the wall and this causes me to get very nervous, my fur is even starting to stand on end. "N-not good!"I thought as a Skulltula came done. This causes me to jump back in panic, cussing violently.
"What's got you jumpier then a dark rabbit?"asked Midna as she came to float by Link.
"Skulltula, we're in a Skulltula nest!"I yelped, dodging and using the Ending Blow on the spider's head once it was flipped over.
"Skulltulas?"echoed Midna.
"Yeah, call them a Shiekah's worst nightmare next to scorpions and any other toxic spider-like Gohma. I'm part Shiekah,"I explained, a shiver running up my spine.
"In other words...you plus toxic bug with eight legs equals dead Shiekah?"she asked, flicking her tail as they continued to move carefully through the small room.
"Not quite, I'm only half Sheikah. My other half is Gerudo. But that pretty much sums it up I guess, I don't know what would happen to me if I got bit."I meowed, taking out my lantern.
That sure was a bit of a pickle then.
If Link got bit by one of those things it sure wouldn't be pretty. And Midna couldn't afford to have this light-fur end up dead or left critically ill. So, she would have to keep a much more careful watch over him from his shadow. Slowly she retreated back into his shadow once they got the last monkey out of here, dodging ravenous spiders left and right.
I leave the room behind me and quickly head back to the chasm where all the monkeys had retreated to. Once there I watch as the monkeys climbed up a huge root and formed a makeshift rope, swinging back and forth at the gap.
I wait for my chance and then leap.
And they grab me, tossing me to the other end.
I land with great ease, but my landing isn't the best personally sense I tripped over my paws a lil' bit. But I walk over to the door and break some pots. And at seeing one held a Healing Guardian I grabbed a empty bottle and swiped the critter up, corking the glass container and slipping it into my healing kit.
"I better heal these injuries before going in. No idea what might be inside now."I whispered to myself.
I pull out a smaller green bag with a brown leather string from my pouch and placed it down on the ground. I open it up and my fangs clasp around a glass handle of a bottle that contained a red liquid.
A normal leveled healing potion.
I uncork it and drank it down, my muzzle scrunching up from the bitter after taste once it was gone. "YUCK! Why is it stuff made by medicine cats and healers have to taste so bad!"I thought bitterly as I flop down to drink some spring water I grabbed on the way to the temple. Once my thirst is quenched I just patiently wait for the effects of the medicine to kick in-which doesn't take long. Before long I'm back to 100% and I have my signature cocky smirk on my face as an impish gleam shined in my eyes. I always felt the best when in battle for some reason.
I don't know why 600 years ago and I don't know now!
Oh well.
Some things are meant not to be solved.
"Well, here we go Midna. There's no turning back now."I meowed once the key was in the slot.
"That's for sure, so don't go getting yourself killed light-fur."retorted Midna with a giggle before vanishing again.
I quickly turn the key and the lock opens, falling to the ground. I then push the door open and dash inside. I look around, keeping my guard up. I rub my right fore paw nervously at seeing the spring was far from normal. And as if on cue my birthmark starts to glow a vivid jade green hue.
"Oh goodie, more poison fog."I grumbled, sarcasm raking my tone of voice.
I move as close to the spring's edge as I could do safely. My left ear twitches at the sound of bubbling water and I turn my gaze towards the center and my face has a dumbfounded look. And as soon as something broke surface I leap back as fast as I could, defiance in my eyes.
Before me are two deku babas...a little bit bigger then normal. Which causes me to have a totally weirded out look mixed with a scowl on my face.
"Midna, what on earth is THAT?"
"For StarClan's sakes! That's a Diababa, nasty lil' things."
"Guess it's time to do some weeding then."I chuckled, going into battle stance.
I hastily spot the bomb insects and grab my Gale Boomrang from my pouch, lock on to it and aimed it at the first toothy weed. I throw it which creates a twister that snatches up the bomb, tossing it into the monster's mouth and destroying the critter.
I repeat the process to the second one.
"Ok...that was too easy for my liking."hissed Midna.
"You can say that again; I never come out unscathed from these temples like this!"I grunted in agreement.
The ground starts to tremble and shake as the water began to bubble again and I keep my guard up once more as I try to keep myself steady. And bursting from the water is what appears to be a mutated version of a Deku Baba with one eye inside the tooth mouth.
"SWEET MERCIFUL POWERSTAR! You sure aren't no tiny weed now, are you?"I yelped, leaping back as it roared in my face.
I'm dodging like crazy here as the smaller plants struck at me. But one manages to get a blow on me, snapping down on my back leg which causes me to wail in agony.
But I think fast and use Powerstar's Fire on the stupid weed and it lets go, shriveling to nothing. I jump back and my ears instantly perk at hearing a monkey.
"Eh! What's he doing here?"I mewed, seeing that male monkey with the big behind.
But what I see in it's hands causes a jeering, pleased expression to grace my face. "YES! Just what the hero ordered!"I thought happily as I take aim at the bomb insect that swing monkey has.I then threw the boomrang once more, hitting the last smaller plant.
I then target again and had the small tornado from the Gale Boomrang toss the bomb at Diababa. Which causes it to shriek an unearthly cry, falling to the ground, mouth wide open.
I quickly seize this chance and attack with all my might with my claws. It then retreats and I do the same and more of those small plants come out of the water. It fires a stream of poisonous acid at me and I make haste to dodge it. I have my boomrang toss another bomb at Diababa and it falls to the ground as I catch my Gale Boomrang, putting it on the ground and leap into the air.
"Ending Blow!"I yowled, my fore claws hitting and sinking deeply into the beast's eye.
I then leap back in a backflip and Diababa retreats, thrashing about in its unnatural dying cries. I watch, panting, as it driveled up and exploded into dark particles of twilight...the eye first anyways.
"Yuck, that was something I didn't need to see."I spat.
I watch as the particles become a strange piece of what looks like some sort of mask, coming to float down in front of me. The poisonous fog then vanished and the spring became pure once more as well. But this thing is glowing with a onyx-grey hue.
And it makes me feel dread.
Not a good thing.
It takes a lot to make me nervous like this.
I clench my teeth as I start to feel the effects of the adrenaline leave my body. Which causes me to take my injured back leg off the ground. "Damn it!"I thought with a frustrated growl, glancing at my blood stained leg. I then look the strange mask part over.
It kinda looked similar to Midna's helmet.
"Midna?"I called, trying my best to conceal any traces of the suffering I was enduring.
Midna quickly came out of Link's shadow with a pleased chortle in front of the tom cat, "Well done, Link. That is...what I've been searching for."
"Just what is it anyways?"I asked, carefully watching at Midna's orange and yellow tail snatched the stone mask shard.
"It's called a Fused Shadow, it's what that Light Diety was speaking of. Do you remember what the spirit said about having to match the strength of the King of Twilight?"she mewed, tail still holding the Fused Shadow.
I give a nod.
"Is this petty lil' thing all there is to it? Far too easy! There is a total of three Fused Shadows, the other Spirits of Light must have the rest."chuckled Midna, a sly expression on her face.
"Just what are these Fused Shadows anyways, Midna? I'm jumpier then a dune mouse right now just being around this stupid thing!"I hissed, tail lashing with impatience.
I tend to get very temperamental when I'm hurt, if not very impatient. Navi knew that before she went missing a year ago. And Zelda knows this from having seen me like that more then once.
"Ooo~! Impatient are we, light-fur? Tell you what, I might just tell you more about these Fused Shadows later if you get the last two. But we better get going, you'll need to get that injury patched up."meowed Midna as she put the mask shard away, floating over to a corner and created a portal on the ground.
I gape at seeing what the Twili she-cat just did. This girl was just full of surprises just like my precious Zelda and my daughter, Lilda.
"How on earth did you do that!"I asked, blinking my eyes in astonishment.
Midna gave had a sly, toothy grin on her face as she floated near the black and teal portal, "All Twili Clan cats can do it, Link...much faster then walking somewhere I think. Anyways, it'll get us out of here so hurry it up!"
"Alright, alright, don't get your tail in a knot Midna! I can only go so fast like this...although I've had worse."I meowed, limping over to the portal.
Once inside I'm taken away-and out-of the Forest Temple. It feels so weird, not what I'm used to personally. I open my eyes moments later and find that I'm standing in front of Faron Springs.
And my ears perk at hearing Faron's voice, "Hero of Time...don't think Hyrule is now safe from the creeping shroud of twilight...leave these woods and head west, there lies the domain of my brother, Eldin. But be forewarned, that land is now covered in twilight's grasp...it is now a realm of shadows. If you set foot there you'll once more become a blue-eyed wolf, so be prepared."
"I will."I whispered.
I quickly lie down where I stood and started grooming the blood out of my fur and off the wound. Normally I'd let it heal normally but I'm pressed for time due to Midna being so pushy and bossy. So, I start digging into my pouch and my healing kit. I take out a bottle fairy spirit and uncork it, letting the little critter out.
"Hello little guardian, think you could heal my leg please?"I asked politely and gently.
The little pink fairy gave a giggle and gave a purr of agreement to the hybrid tom cat. With a melodic chuckle she flew spirals around him and came to a stop at the back leg that was injured and gingerly laid her healing touch on it, leaving not even a scar behind and then vanished.
I rise to my paws once more and rid my cloak of the dust and dirt from my track through the temple. I then grabbed the hood and lifted it over my head to shield it from the late green-leaf sun. I then start to head out of the forest.
Eldin Province was next.
