Disclaimer: I was hoping that when I turned 17 I would own Zelda, but I don't. That is very depressing. Maybe when I turn 18, it will become a reality... Alright, don't dash my dreams! I will never own Zelda!
IMPORTANT AUTHORS NOTE (PLEASE READ!): Hello, everyone! I'm sorry that this chapter has taken such a long time to post up. I had a major brain fart, but I thank the pastor at my church, for he gave me an idea during a Sunday service. I wish to inform my readers that my next chapter might take longer to post up because, sadly, I started school. Junior year, "oh what fun". And this year is proving to be quite challenging. So whenever I get the chance to write, I will. I just want to inform all of you that I'm not going to stop writing, it's just going to be longer to post up chapters, and to please not stop reading. I have made this chapter fairly long to make up for it and, this will make you all happy, no cliff hanger at the end of this chapter. YAY! Anyway, thank you for baring with me and this explanation and please enjoy chapter 6 of my book: Shattered Twilight.
Ch. 6 – Lost Light
The headache that felt like a thousand arrow heads were attacking the brain returned once Din regained free will of her mind.
"Curse you, Ganondorf," Din cursed under her breath as she continuously added pressure to her head to try and stop the pain. She knew that not just her, but every spirit in the underworld felt the same pain after Ganondorf's control ebbed away from their minds.
Din tried to forget about the pain by focusing on the flow of the think river of lava that streamed in front of her. She always stayed near the rivers of lava because they were the only things she could really tolerate in the underworld.
Heavy footsteps could be heard slowly approaching the goddess of power. Din did not have to turn around. She already knew who it was.
"You will not take over my mind again, Ganondorf," Din said in a low, threatening tone.
"I told you if you cooperated with me, things would be simple for you," Ganondorf stopped in front of Din and crossed his arms. "But you must now feel pain because of your stubbornness."
"I'm only forced to be with you. I don't have to cooperate with you," Din made eye contact with Ganondorf. His dark red eyes flamed with the intense inferno of hell. She could see souls, trapped in his eyes, crying out for a savior that would never come until Ganondorf lay dead.
But Din did not look away. She didn't try to save herself from that stare of death. She just narrowed her powerful emerald green eyes and glared at Ganondorf. "If I were not bound to you, I would've killed you a long time ago," Din hissed. "You would be nothing without me."
Ganondorf felt like a fool when a tiny speck of fear creeped into his mind. Din's eyes raged with a powerful flame far greater than his own, but her flame wasn't a hellish inferno. No, it was the small flame of a candle that could shine through even the deepest darkness. How could such a small flame possess such power?!
Ganondorf shook off the pathetic feeling of fear and snickered. "I beg to differ. I would be powerful with or without you. You're more of a hostage."
"Hostage? I am not your prisoner, Ganondorf!"
"Think about it. The chosen hero, the Princess, your sisters, they have to find a way to kill me without harming you," Ganondorf's evil grin grew. "For I will be on your back anytime we go to the world of light."
"You…" Din began to rage.
"Now, now," Ganondorf shook his head. "No need to get rough," he turned his back to the goddess, his arms still crossed. "Well, I'm feeling rather… "generous" today. I'll let your mind wonder free… for now." He turned his head to the left so he could see Din out of the corner of his eye. "But when my moment of triumph is near, you will do as I say and you will watch the wretched light die."
Ganondorf snapped his fingers when Din did not respond. Two hell dragons flew towards Ganondorf as if they came out of thin air. When they landed, Din took a quick glance over at them.
One dragon was a light, grassy green color. Its hide reminded Din of Farore's silky wings. Its belly was a dark, dirt brown. Its wings shone a beautiful sky blue with tints of white.
The other dragon was less attractive. Its hide was a dull, pukey greenish brown color. Splotches of goop were strategically placed around its body. A dark yellow acid like substance dripped out of the dragon's mouth and landed on the ground, creating small craters wherever the acid touched.
Earth and poison. Din thought as she turned her head away from the grotesque image of the poison hell dragon.
The earth and poison hell dragons bowed before Ganondorf.
Ganondorf stepped up to them and placed one hand in the middle of each of their heads. "Go to the land of light and go after the Light Spirit they call Lanayru!"
Hearing their orders, they roared and took off into the air. As they flew higher, three more hell dragons joined them.
Din looked up helplessly as she watched the dragons nearing the wall that separated hell from Hyrule. Once the dragons reached to top, a shadow light shone down into the underworld.
The light from the shards of the Mirror of Twilight…
The five hell dragons disappeared into the shadow light. The light suddenly vanished. The hell dragons were now in Hyrule.
Oh, Nayru, Farore, please be alive, Din continued to gaze up at where the hell dragons had disappeared. I wish I could come up and help you, but I am bound to this wretched demon, Din glared at Ganondorf as he walked away from her. With him using my power, I might even kill you. Please, stay away from me. I don't want to hurt you again. A single tear rolled down Din's cheek. Forgive me… The tear fell from her cheek and landed in the stream of lava below her.
Luda stood nearby, dabbing Zelda's head with a moist cloth as her father worked endlessly to try and save the Princess. She saw dried blood on his hands and his eyes were heavy from no sleep, but he paid no heed to his own needs.
Renado sighed as he used his arm to rub his eyes, hoping that the need for sleep would leave. He removed his arm and gazed at the Princess.
Blood still continued to ebb its way out of her wound no matter how much pressure was added to it. Her breathing seemed to slow down more and more each passing hour.
If I can't stop the bleeding, there will be no more hope of saving her.
Renado's thoughts were interrupted when he felt something warm gently touch his forehead. He turned his gaze upon his daughter who dabbed at his head with the hot springwater cloth. He smiled. "Thank you, Luda, but you must save the water for Princess Zelda."
"I know, father, but the water is nearly gone," Renado looked down at Luda's feet. The bucket that had once been full of hot springwater was now a mere puddle. "The heat is also cooling, so the powers of the springwater aren't as affective anymore."
Renado gave another sight, then he gazed at his daughter. "Luda, could you please go get some more hot springwater? For I fear if I leave Princess Zelda, something might happen to her."
"No need. I have brought more hot springwater for you," Gor Coron pushed aside the cloth that covered the entrance to the room Zelda was in. He carried a large bucket, full to the brim, with steaming hot water.
"Thank you, Gor Coron," Renado gave a small bow as Gor Coron placed the new water down and grabbed the empty bucket.
"Do not thank me, brother. I am glad to help," Gor Coron smiled.
"But I must. Your hospitality has been greatly appreciated. I don't know how we can repay you."
Gor Coron chuckled as he crossed his arms. "You humans are always saying thank you. Just one thanks is enough. If you need anything, just let me or the other brothers know and we shall help in any
way we can." With that, Gor Coron let the cloth drape back over the entrance and Renado, Luda, and Zelda were alone again.
Renado couldn't help, but to smile. He knew he was a little too gracious, but how could he not be?
Ever since the demon dragons attacked Kakariko and killed Eldin, the land grew dark and dreary. Nowhere felt safe anymore. After the dragons had left the village in ruins, the Gorons had allowed Renado, Luda, and even Barnes to come up Death Mountain and stay with them. Gor Coron had even let Zelda rest in the room that lay at the edge of the sumo wrestling room. The bed was quite large for a human, but it worked just fine. Renado knew they were safe, but he did not know for how long.
"Is she going to be alright, father?" Luda broke the silence as she soaked a cloth with the fresh hot springwater and placed it over Princess Zelda's forehead.
"It is hard to say," Renado closed his eyes. "If she wasn't losing so much blood, it would be easier to save her. But do not fret," he opened his eyes again. They now blazed with determination. "I shall not give up on her."
"Um… excuse me… Renado?"
"I told you not to disturb me, Barnes! Especially when I'm trying to save a life," Renado snapped as he saw Barnes poke his head into their room.
"I know, I know, and I'm sorry to bother you," Barnes stepped around the curtain and stood next to Renado, "but the great goddess Nayru wishes to see Zelda."
Not wanting to argue against a goddesses' request, Renado calmed. "All right, Barnes. Bring one of the Gorons over here."
Barnes nodded and quickly darted out of the room. Shortly after he left, he came back with a fairly large Goron following closely behind.
"Yes, brother?" The Goron asked Renado.
"Could you please bring Princess Zelda gently down to the goddess Nayru?"
"Not a problem." Luda quickly stepped out of the room so the large Goron would have enough space.
The Goron gently scooped up the Princess in his arms.
Zelda gave a small whine of pain as the Goron began the descent down.
Nayru watched anxiously as the Goron carried Zelda closer and closer to her. She was also amazed at how such a strong creature could be s gentle with someone or something so fragile.
The Goron finally stood before Nayru. Renado, Luda, Barnes, and the other Gorons stood nearby and watched to see what would happen.
"Place her in front of me," Nayru gestured for the Goron to place Zelda on the ground in front of her.
The Goron nodded and gently laid Zelda in front of Nayru.
Without hesitation, Nayru lowered her head so it hovered above Zelda's still form. She opened her mouth.
The humans and the Gorons watching could not believe it. It seemed like Nayru was drooling on Zelda. But the saliva coming out of her mouth was different. It was a dark silver color, like Nayru's eyes, and it seemed to glow.
Nayru's saliva slowly dripped into Zelda's open would. As soon as the liquid touched the wound, it slowly began to close up. In a matter of seconds, the wound had completely scarred over. No more blood flowed out and Zelda's breathing began to go back to normal.
Everyone let out the breath that they didn't know they were holding. They had just witnessed a miracle.
Nayru closed her mouth and lifted her head. "Take her back up to get some more rest. And make sure to mend her dress," the same Goron that had carried her down, gently scooped Zelda back up and began the climb back to her room.
"Thank you, Nayru," Renado approached the goddess and bowed.
"I heard you were having trouble, so I decided to help," Nayru smiled. "I know it seemed gross, but my saliva holds a healing power that no fairy in Hyrule could compare to."
Renado could only bow again. He felt strange trying to carry a conversation with a goddess. "How… is Farore?"
"She is resting in the cave near the hot spring. The heat emanating from this mountain has done wonders for both my sister and I. Thank you." Nayru glanced around the area. "Where is the chosen hero? I haven't seen him for quite some time."
"I saw him heading down to the village a few hours ago. At least, what's left of the village," Barnes chimed in. He quickly dashed away once he saw the cold stare that Renado shot at him.
"Barnes is right. Link has been gone for a while," Renado stared at the path that led down the mountain. "I'm worried about him. He was very quiet and seemed upset. I know he can defend himself, but it could be dangerous without the light of Eldin, even for him."
Nayru glanced at the path as well. She spread her wings out. "I'll go down and find him."
"But, you are not fully recovered. What if…"
"Don't worry about me," Nayru gave a reassuring smile as she leapt into the air and flew down to the village ruins.
Without the light of Eldin, Kakariko Village wasn't safe. All the buildings had collapsed after the attack form the hell dragons, leaving the village in ruins.
Link sat silently at the edge of the decrepit village, staring silently at what was left of the Spirit Spring.
Without Eldin, the water had evaporated from the spring. No light shone down anywhere.
I failed you, Eldin, Link thought as he lowered his head in defeat. By looking down, he saw the two pieces of the Master Sword lying in front of him. After searching and searching Eldin Province, he had finally found the two halves.
"You're lying to yourself, boy! Your light is fading with the light of this god forsaken land."
Link closed his eyes. Ever since their encounter, Ganondorf's words clung to Link's mind. He had tried to shake them off, but they wouldn't let go.
"You shall fall and perish in eternal darkness! I look forward to devouring your weak soul!"
"Are you alright, chosen hero?" Startled, Link turned around to see Nayru slowly walking towards him.
"Please, just call me Link," Link said quietly as he turned back toward the dried up spring.
"Link, I'm sorry I startled you," Nayru sat down next to Link.
"It's fine."
Nayru gazed at Link. She knew his mind was somewhere else because he wouldn't make eye contact with her. "Is something troubling you, Link?"
Link didn't want to share his thoughts, but Nayru's voice was so gentle, like the light tapping of raindrops of a windowsill, that he couldn't keep them away from the goddess of wisdom. "I don't know. So many things are running through my mind right now. I can't sort them out."
Silence fell between the two. Nayru waited patiently to see if Link would say anything else.
Hesitantly, Link broke the silence. "How are you feeling?"
"I'm fine. The cuts weren't deep so I was able to heal them easily. Zelda and Farore are still resting, but don't worry. They're going to be just fine."
Link couldn't hold the long sigh of relief that escaped from him. The dry blood on his tunic from Zelda's wound had been constantly reminding him that Zelda could possibly die. The still form of Farore had haunted his mind as well. He was just happy to hear they would live.
"Can I ask you something, Nayru?"
"You may."
"Why is it that Farore couldn't handle a long fall, yet you could?" This had troubled Link ever since Farore lost consciousness.
"Farore is the youngest. She hasn't been able to take pain very well because she is still discovering her true power. But she does get herself into a lot of situations that cause her pain. I don't know, I guess it's the courage inside of her that keeps her going," Nayru smiled. Farore had always wanted to be strong liker her and Din.
"How can you be smiling at a time like this?!" Nayru was surprised by Link's sudden outburst. "You, Farore, and Zelda could've been killed! Ganondorf has already killed two of the four Light Spirits and that is sending Hyrule plummeting into darkness! And the one weapon that can actually pierce Satan is now in two pieces with no possible way of putting it back together!" Link closed his eyes and pounded the dead ground with his fist. After a few moments, he let out a long breath and said quietly, "It is hopeless, isn't it? We should just give up… There's no way to save Hyrule this time…"
Nayru stared endlessly at Link. "What are you talking about? What is making you think like this?!"
Link did not answer or look at Nayru. His eyes remained closed and his head turned away from the goddess.
This isn't the man the Lord spoke of, Nayru thought. He told me of a courageous young man, a hero who fought for the lights of this land… Wait!
"Link," Nayru spoke softly, "look at me."
Link did not make a move.
"Link, I cannot make you look at me. You must do it of your own free will," Nayru continued in her soft tone. "Look into my eyes."
After a few moments, Link's head finally turned and faced the goddess. But his eyes still remained closed.
"Open your eyes, Link."
Slowly, Link's eyes opened.
Nayru drew in a quick breath. A glossy coating was beginning to engulf Link's feral blue eyes, making him appear to be staring endlessly into space.
Oh no! Ganondorf is taking over him! Nayru quickly brushed the feeling of terror aside and focused all of her mind on Link.
Nayru had the power to look through someone's eyes and see right into their heart, but she had to prepare herself for what she was about to see.
She took a few deep breaths, then she looked through Link's lifeless eyes and into his heart.
"You shall fall and perish in eternal darkness! I look forward to devouring your weak soul!" Eldin Province was on fire once again. Ganondorf hovered over Link's small form, laughing. Link cowered like a small child at Ganondorf's feet. Black chains made from darkness held Link to the fiery ground.
Nayru's heart began to ache as she watched the events that took place in Link's heart. But through the pain, she continued to watch.
Ganondorf pulled out a whip made of fire. "Now that you're mine, you shall suffer for eternity. Say goodbye to your 'precious light'!" Ganondorf spat out the word 'light', like it was poison on his lips, as he raised the whip above his head and quickly brought it down.
Nayru looked away from Link's eyes. She hated to see him suffer like this, but she couldn't help him. She glanced at him again. His physical body was unharmed, but his soul was dying. "Hang in there, Link," she whispered as she looked back into his eyes.
Every stroke felt like hundreds of blades piercing through the body. Every time the whip came down, Link's agonizing cry would pierce the air. Yet he did nothing. He did not struggle, try to break free, fight back… nothing. It seemed he had just given up.
But then, coming out of the flames, was a small white fairy. It floated nearby, tinkling, trying to get Link's attention.
Knowing what the fairy was, Nayru quickly thought about what to do. She couldn't physically let Link know about the fairy, but she could tell him. She tried to call his name.
"Link!"
Link took in slow, raspy breaths. Blood poured from every inch of his body. He was on the boundary of life and death.
"Link!"
He slowly opened his eyes. They grew wider once he saw the fairy floating in front of him.
"That is your light, Link! Grab it before it's too late!"
Link struggled against the pain from the whip and the weight of the chains to try and reach out for the fairy.
He stretched his arm as far out as he could, but the fairy was just out of reach.
"Come… to… me… please…" Link begged the fairy to come closer.
The fairy simply continued to hover where it was.
"Please…" Link tried once more.
"I will not come to you. You must come to me," the fairy spoke lightly.
Link reached out for the fairy again, but he still couldn't reach it. "Please… I'm not… strong… enough…"
"Are you? Do you believe in yourself… or don't you? You want the light to come save you, but in reality, the light is the one who needs saving."
The fairy's words echoed through Link's mind, making him remember when the light was in trouble before. He remembered how he had saved the light from being engulfed in shadow.
"You kept thinking I was your savior when I'm really not. I'm power, to give you strength to defend the weak. I'm wisdom, to give you the knowledge of right and wrong. I'm courage, to help you through your toughest challenges."
"Of course," Link remembered. "The triforce is light."
"But my light has begun to diminish because of the dark entity that towers above you."
Having forgotten about Ganondorf, Link looked up to see him glaring at the small fairy.
"It appears I missed destroying some light. I will not miss again!" Ganondorf raised his hand to the sky. Energy began to take form in his open palm. He then hurled the energy at the fairy.
"No!" Link forgot about his pain and began to struggle against the darkness chains.
"What will you do, hero? Will you save me? Or yourself?" The fairy's words echoed through Link's mind as he saw the energy getting closer to his light.
"Don't give up!"
The chains began to break apart. Link continuously struggled until every dark chain lay in pieces on the ground. He quickly made his way to the fairy.
He took it in his hands and hovered over its small form, waiting for the impact of the attack.
The energy never hit them. It dissolved in mid flight.
Ganondorf's cry echoed across the vast plain as light began to engulf his body.
Link glanced over his shoulder and saw Ganondorf dissolve into a pile of ash.
Link felt a gust of wind come through. The wind blew out the flames and carried Ganondorf's ashes away. The clouds began to part, allowing the sun to shine down on the dark land.
Only when he was sure that the danger had passed did Link let the fairy go.
"Are you alright?" Link asked. He wanted to make sure he hadn't hurt the fairy by accident.
"You protected me when you had no protection for yourself. Why?" The fairy's voice was calm. It did not seem shaken up from almost being destroyed.
"Not just me, but everyone needs the light. Nothing can survive in darkness. But if sacrificing my life so that light could shine on the rest of the world, I would gladly take the blow." Link smiled. He had said that straight from his heart without any second thought.
The fairy did not speak for a short time. Link was beginning to think that he had said something wrong when the fairy finally spoke again. "You were right. You said you would never stray from the light."
"But, I was…"
"You only lost me. I never left you and I never will." The fairy drifted over and gently landed over Link's heart. "So get out there. Be my protector and savior and don't worry, I'll be right there by your side." The fairy disappeared into Link's chest.
Link closed his eyes and smiled. His heart felt lighters now. He felt happy and at peace once again.
Nayru slowly crept out of Link's heart and looked away from his eyes. She noticed his body did not seem changed and the gloss still coated his eyes.
"Link?" Nayru called his name, worried that maybe what she had just seen was a dream.
At the sound of his name, the gloss suddenly vanished from Link's eyes. His heaving breaths made it seem like he had finally reached the surface after being underwater for a long time.
"What… happened?!" Link panted.
Nayru sighed with relief. "Satan, he was beginning to take over you."
Link's breathing began to slow down. "How could he take over me? My heart was still in my control…"
"Yes, but your mind wasn't. That's what Satan does," Nayru explained. "Ganondorf messed with your mind by telling you something that wasn't true, but put it into words that made it seem true. That one lie lingered in the back of your mind until; finally, it overtook your mind completely. So you were never going to the darkness. Satan just made it seem like you were."
"Ganondorf," Link said his name in a low, threatening tone, "He'll pay for what he did to me!" Link quickly stood up only to find himself falling back down to the ground. "Whoa. Why do I feel so weak?"
"Take it easy," Nayru gently propped Link u with one of her claws. "Your soul has been through a lot. You must give yourself time to rest and recover."
Link slowly nodded as he closed his eyes to rid himself of the dizzy spell he just had. "Nayru, you called out to me in my heart, didn't you?"
"You couldn't see the light that was right in front of your eyes. I had to say something."
"How did you do that?"
Nayru pondered as to how she could tell the young Hylian of her special power. "Since I am one of wisdom, I can read people in a special way. I am able to look into the eyes of any creature that roams this land and see right into their hearts. But I have to be careful with how I use it. Sometimes the memories in a heart aren't meant to be seen."
Link was amazed at hearing about Nayru's special power. "So, you saved me when I was basically trapped inside my own heart."
"I only helped you see the light," Nayru corrected. "You saved yourself."
"Still, without you, I don't know what I would've done to this land. Thank you," Link smiled up at Nayru.
Nayru's silver eyes sparkled as she returned a smile. "Hyrule needs you, Link. You are the only one who can truly defeat Ganondorf."
Link's smile faded. "Why me?"
"Because you have that," Nayru moved her gaze to the two pieces of the Master Sword.
Link looked down at the pieces as well and sighed. "Even if we somehow could weld it together, it wouldn't have the same power as before. I don't think there's any possible way of ever restoring it to its original state."
"There is one way to put it back together," Nayru thought aloud.
"What? How?!"
"Light and shadow created the darkness, now light and shadow must come back together to stop it," Nayru explained. "Yours and Zelda's light combined together with the shadow of the Twilight Princess should restore the Master Sword entirely."
"Wait!" Link was shocked from Nayru's explanation. "Did you just say 'Twilight Princess'?!"
"Yes. We must bring her here."
"How can we?" Link sighed in defeat. "The only way to the Twilight Realm has been shattered. There's no other way."
A small grin appeared on Nayru's face. "Once again, you underestimate the goddesses. My power combined with my sisters' powers should be enough to get the Twilight Princess here. Unfortunately, Din is not with us, but Farore and I will see what we can do."
Link hardly heard what Nayru had said. He kept thinking about Midna. The little imp that had gotten him into so much trouble, yet who had taken up a special place in his heart, he was going to see her again.
"Come." Link's thoughts were interrupted when Nayru stood up. "We must go back up Death Mountain. We will have to inform Farore and Zelda of everything once they wake up."
Nayru reached out her strong leg, gently picked up Link, and placed him on her back.
"You might also have to wait until I wake up, too," Link yawned. He had gotten no sleep since his battle with Ganondorf.
"Fall asleep, young one. You need your rest," Nayru said in her gentle voice as she swiftly lifted off the ground and flew towards the top of Death Mountain.
Link quickly fell asleep to the beats of Nayru's wings. No more evil thoughts plagued his mind. Darkness did not way down on his heart anymore. All he felt was a light heart beating in his chest, like the dancing of a fairy.
