8: Trials
"Get those ballistas on the walls!" Groose roared, "With Dragons on the prowl, we haven't a moment to lose!"
Pipit was observing his large companion as he directed the lower ranked Knights with his latest defenses, an enormous crossbow he dubbed the ballista...well, technically, he wanted to call it the Groosenator model two, but Ashei, bless the dear woman, squashed that idea and said something about ballistics, leading the queen to call it a ballista...Groose was still pouting over the name, since his Groosenator(I.E. the catapult) had been such a success.
If the young Knight were to be honest, it was the first time he'd seen his friend so fired up over an upcoming battle, especially when it involved a Dragon, or possibly two.
Shockingly enough, as they prepared to ride out in aid of Ordon against the beasts, Zelda herself had come bumbling out of the castle in a mad dash to stop them, saying that one of the Dragons intended to double back and attack Hyrule.
How she knew this, he didn't know, but the moment the words left her lips, Groose had flown into a tizzy of movement as he made fast to bolster the castle's defenses.
"Groose," Pipit called up to the lumbering Knight upon the wall, "Don't you think you're overdoing it a bit?"
"A bit? A bit?!" Groose roared, "This is a Dragon we're talking about!" He lept onto a flag pole and slid all the way down to the ground where Pipit was standing. "And you heard what the one Link fought with could do," he said, a quaver in his voice, "It breathed fire, and wore armor for Din's sake!"
"Language," Pipit chided gently, smiling, "I highly doubt that the goddesses of power likes having her name take in vain?"
"Oh, forgive me!" Groose groaned, scrubbing his face, "I haven't been able to think straight since Her Highness told us that a Dragon was heading our way!"
"I know," Pipit sighed, "I was certain that the beasts were both heading toward Ordon, but as the Queen said, one is heading toward Commander Link's location, and the other one is most likely to head right back for us."
Groose sighed and sat down on an upturned barrel, "Link took down a Dragon all on his own," he said, reaching for his hammer and setting it on the ground at his feet, "We're all green horns compared to him, so what chance do we have against one?"
Pipit heft his injured arm, "Better than I do." He said, smirking forlornly, "I can't even use my sword right now, let alone draw a bow."
"Pip, I'm a coward," Groose grunted, "Facing a bunch of weak little Blublins is one thing, but a monster like a Dragon? I think I'd rather hide myself in the castle's wine cellar!"
"Cowardice is not fleeing the battle," said a young woman, startling the two, "It is fleeing the battle and not caring who else dies in the process."
Pipit felt his heart give a short stutter. "I...don't believe we've had the pleasure?" He said, fighting down a rising blush, and held out his good arm, "I'm Pipit, one of the Queen's Knights, and this is Sir Groose, another one of her Knights."
The woman smiled gently at them and nodded, "I know who you are. Zelda spoke well of you both, especially since Link seems to trust you so much with her safety."
Groose grunted again, "I may be a coward, but I would rather die than allow harm to come to the queen."
"And that tells me that you are no coward," she said, smiling at the large man before turning to the younger Knight, "And you are quite a warrior to have survived such an attack."
Pipit scratched the back of his head bashfully, "R-really, it was just blind luck...Sir Groose and Link are way ahead of me as far as skills go."
Seh smiled at him and reached out to touch his left arm. A blue light engulfed her hand, and traveled up his arm, "You modest becomes you, Sir Pipit," she said, taking her hand away, "But you lack confidence in your skills, which we will all need in this coming battle." She turned to leave while Pipit looked after her in wonder, "Oh, by the way," she said, looking over her shoulder, "My name is Lana."
"Lana..." Pipit breathed out as she continued on, "Such a pretty name..."
Groose snorted, "Sounds like you've got yourself a little crush there, Pippy?"
Pipit blushed, "Please don't call me that! Only my mother gets away with using that ridiculous nickname!" He growled, flexing his arm...and felt no pain! "What the - ?!" He took his arm from the sling, and rotated it slowly, "But...how did...when did...that's impossible!"
Groose whistled lowly, "Looks like she's a sorceress, too...picked a fine girl to fall for, Pip, but you'll have to work hard to impress a girl like that!"
Pipit kept looking down at his formerly injured arm, and in the direction that Lana had walked off in, toward the castle, in bewilderment. "She was a sorceress?" Pipit said in disbelief, "Seriously?!"
Groose pointed to his arm, "Don't believe me? She healed your arm, didn't she?"
"W-well, yeah, but - "
"Hey!" Ashei yelled from up on the wall, "Groose! Get back up here! The boys are having trouble with one of your stone chuckers!"
"Dammit, they're called Groosenators!" Groose roared, "Get that through your head, woman!"
"And I told you, I'm never, ever calling them that in a million years!" Ashei shouted down, "I've never heard anything so stupid!"
"It's not stupid! It's my invention, it's my right to decide what the name of it is!"
"Shad could think of a better name!"
Pipit chuckled nervously as one of Groose's and Ashei's near famous shouting matches started up. Near famous because a shouting match between Groose and Ashei couldn't hold a candle to Link when he was angry with someone.
=x=
"Fi?" Link growled out, his sword still held at the ready, "You're not here to fight us?"
The blue woman shook her head, "No, I am not." She said, smiling at the Hero, "I am only here as a guide through this tomb and its chambers...but I find it odd that you have come here..."
Shad chose then to step forward, "We've come here seeking knowledge and perhaps something that could help the people of Hyrule during this time of crisis." He said, "Our kingdom is beset by an unknown attack that sends hordes of beasts and monsters into our lands, and Link has near burned himself out from the fighting, even though we've only just come out of a war."
Fi cocked her head for a moment, then nodded, "Yes, I feel his weariness." She said sadly, "I have not seen one of the Heroes this worn from battle since his predecessor." She floated back for a moment, gesturing, "Be warned, for everything within this tomb comes with a price."
Link sheathed his sword, and crossed his arms, "What sort of price?"
"Something, I believe that none of you is willing to part with," Fi said cryptically, "Each room provides a test to the one that enters, even if that person happens to be a Hero. Each test is designed to break the one being tested. If you fail, you will, of course, have what you came for, but will be leaving something of greater value behind."
"That doesn't bode well," Shad said nervously, adjusting his glasses. "What is the price for knowledge of magic and the ancient techniques?"
Fi gestured to her left, "It is different for each person that enters the Archive. For some, it could be a bit of knowledge they possess that the Archive does not, or perhaps a piece of themselves." She said, "Either or, you will leave something of value behind, or leave with nothing."
Link sighed, "Figures that there would be a catch," he said, glaring at the scribe, "Alright, what about the Armory?"
Fi nodded, "That is a little more straightforward than the Archive," she said, floating to her right, "Within the Armory lies a mirror you must stand in front of before entering. If your heart is pure, then you may pass unbothered. But, if your heart is clouded even in the slightest by darkness, then the mirror will reflect that darkness back at you, and you will have no other choice but to fight."
"Well, that rules all manner of peaceful ways for me," Link said, striding up the steps, his hand going for his sword, "After all I've done, I'm not even close to being pure."
Fi floated alongside him, "Do you say that because of what you had to do in the war?"
"Yes," was Link answer, and strode into the hall.
Linkle made to follow him, but Fi appeared in front of her, "Forgive me, little one, but only one may enter at a time."
"But I - " Shad came up and placed his hand on the girl's shoulder, "Mister Shad?"
He sighed and shook his head, "You should wait here, Linkle. I was the one that wanted to come here, so I should be the one to take most of the risks...however, Link is a fighter, and I'm not. He's well suited to this challenge."
Fi nodded, and floated toward he Archive, "Shall I escort you to the room of your choice?"
"Can Linkle come with me, or must I go alone?" Shad asked.
"The same rule applies to the Archive as it does to the Armory." Fi said, shaking her head, "I'm sorry, but the little one must remain here until your trials are done."
Shad sighed, "Then please, allow me to go ahead alone," he said, "The young lady shouldn't be left on her own."
"I was merely being polite when I offered to escort you," Fi said, "If you were a Hero, then you would have been allowed to go alone, but as you are not, then I must insist that I accompany you."
Shad nodded, "Have it your way, then." He said, and followed the spirit, leaving Linkle alone.
Linkle puffed out her cheeks in annoyance, "That's not fair..." she grumbled, "I wanna help, too!"
Your trial will begin shortly. She yelped and whipped around with her crossbows drawn.
"Who said that?!"
Look behind you.
She did, and there, sitting on the Hero of Time's Tomb..."Mister...Link?"
"One of the many," he said, smiling sadly, and patted the tomb he sat on, "You see, I'm this fellow right here." He looked up at her and said, "I am the Tragic Hero of Time."
=x=
Link, his sword drawn once more, entered the hall of the Armory. The walls were lined with markings depicting his passed lives, and the thoughts unsettled him more so than the idea of facing whatever the mirror had in store for him.
The hall began to darken, and Link found himself staring at his reflection. "This must be it." He said to himself, and tapped his knuckle against the glass, his image doing the same. He then placed his hands on his hips, "Well? Aren't you gonna test me or something?" He asked his reflection, feeling slightly foolish, "I don't have all day, you know?"
"I know you don't," his reflection said, making him jump while his mirror image remained still, "That's why it's so enjoyable just standing here."
Link felt his brow twitching violently, "If this is some sort of joke - "
"It's only a joke if you find this whole situation funny," Mirror Link said, his smile dropping, "Did you know that I once fought with the Hero of Time? He and I had quit the battle. If it hadn't been for his unpredictability, I would have killed him easily."
Link swallowed, "Fi said you would test me, to see if I was pure of heart...well, I'm not, so shouldn't you be attacking me instead of giving me a history lesson?"
Mirror Link just shrugged, "Purity of heart and purity of body are two entirely different things, my other self." He said, "Being pure of the heart simply means you do things for others with nothing to consciously gain for yourself. As far as I've seen, though, you aren't entirely pure of heart."
"Then we fight?" Link asked, gripping his sword.
Mirror Link shook his head, "Always so quick to draw your sword," he sighed, "Now I know why the princess worries about you so much. You aren't entirely pure of heart because you carry guilt around like a bottled fairy."
"I know that already," Link snapped, "I wouldn't be human if I didn't feel the guilt that I do! You can't honestly expect me not to feel anything after what I've done!"
"To kill is to live, to live is to one day die," Mirror Link said, shaking his head, "All things at one point, from the smallest Kokiri child, to the mightiest Deku Tree will one day meet their mutual fate, that is simply the natural order of things." He said, and crossed his arms, "What you did in the face of Ganondorf's evil, even killing your fellow Hylians after they had been corrupted by Shadow, was done for the sake of others, even going so far as to accept the corruption of Shadow yourself, and embracing the beast within you, was done because you wanted to protect those important to yourself."
"But my hands are stained with blood," Link said, grinding his teeth, "how can you say I'm even a tiny bit pure?"
"True, you have tainted your hands with the blood of many," Mirror Link said, "But you only did so because you had no choice, and now the guilt of what you've done weighs heavily on you because you thought there could have been another way to fight those beasts, and return them to being people once again, but the sad truth of it all is that there are those that cannot be saved, no matter how hard you try."
Link sighed, looking down, "So...what does that mean for me?"
"You feel the guilt you do when you shouldn't," Mirror Link said, "It is all well and good to feel guilty for causing the death of another when you could have avoided such an out come, but not so when you didn't stand a chance in the first place. You even feel guilt for the death of Ganondorf, and went so far as to give him a proper burial. Link, the only reason your heart is impure is the unfounded guilt you carry because you killed people that had been irrevocably transformed into monsters, and for killing a man that had earned his fate a hundred times over because of his deeds throughout time. Or did you forget that your ancestors fought with the same man time and time again?"
"I..."
"Let go of your guilt," his mirror image said to him, "Let all of the pain you've put yourself through flow away like a river." His form began to waver, "You push others away because you are afraid that your blood stained hands would taint them as well, but it's time to let the blood be washed away because you are the only one that sees it there."
Link's mirror image began to fade, leaving the frame of the mirror open to the other side.
Let go of the weight of your burdens, and begin to live.
=x=
"This is the room you seek," Fi said, gesturing for Shad to enter. The man did eagerly, and smiled upon seeing the vast shelves of books and scrolls.
"Incredible," he breathed out, adjusting his glasses, "There must be thousands of ancient tombs in this library!"
"Five thousand, nine hundred-eighty-nine tombs to be exact," Fi said as she floated into the room, "That is not counting the books about alchemic potions, or the scrolls of detailed spell weaving, nor the texts on metal and wood work." She said, flaring her arms out, "Taking that into account, there well over ten thousand volumes inside this room."
Shad sighed, smiling, "It would take me years to sift through all of this knowledge...I doubt I would finish in my own lifetime!"
Fi floated closely for a moment, "There is another way for you to gain the knowledge from this Archive," she said, and floated in front of him, placing her fingers against his forehead, "In the countless centuries that I have resided within this tomb, I have read each of these texts thrice over, and I have committed it all to memory in order to restore damaged texts." She said, "If you wish it, I can pass all that I know into your own mind...but be warned, for every ounce of knowledge I pass, something must be taken from you."
Shad looked uncomfortable, "What...what would be taken?"
"Memories," Fi stated, "Though I'm not sure what sort of memories, they shall be important to you...think carefully before we begin."
Shad shook himself, "My friends and family are in danger because we don't know enough," he told the guardian, "I can't go back to them empty-handed!"
"Then it shall be done," Fi said, her form beginning to glow, "so begins your trial."
Blinding pain shot through his head as if he had been struck by a lightning bolt. Immediately, he began seeing things he knew weren't his own thoughts as Fi's magic poured her knowledge into his mind. But what began after that was beyond what he had expected.
His first meeting with Ashei.
He was young back then, only eighteen, and working as the castle scribe when he met her. He had come into the library to find her reading a book. She was younger than he was, only sixteen, and was training to become a Knight. Having been raised away from society, she knew very little about social interactions outside of her father.
The first thing out of her mouth when she saw him had been "You look useless."
It was a memory that made him laugh whenever he thought about it. A memory that began to fade and break away from him. "Wh-what's happening!?" Shad growled, "Why - ?!"
"This is the price that must be paid," Fi told him, her eyes glowing, "Those who seek knowledge forsake all else save for the pursuit of knowledge. Friendship, wealth, romance, all of these things are nothing but obstacles that stand in the way of that pursuit."
Another memory surfaced, making Shad gasp. He was outside in the fields around Castle Town helping his mentor gather herbs just as Ashei and her father were returning from hunting trip when a Leever had popped out of the ground near him and started chasing him around the field. Ashei had taken aim at the creature with her bow, and shot it down quickly, but not before it had chased him all the way to the moat. He had fallen in with a huge yelp, and larger splash just as she had killed it. The moat wasn't deep, but it was deep enough that he was completely soaked, with his glasses falling down his nose comically. It was then that he'd heard the most beautiful sound. Ashei's laughter.
She was still laughing at him when she reached out to help out of the water, but, in a fit of childishness, when he grasped her arm, he hauled back and pulled her in right along with him. When she glared at him, he had grinned at her, and her laughter returned in full force. It was the first time he had realized that he'd fallen for the young woman.
That too began to fade.
"Stop it!" Shad growled. "Stop taking my memories!"
Fi cocked her head, "But is this not what you wanted?"
Shad groaned as the memory of his and Ashei's first mission together came to the forefront of his mind, and he held fast to it. "I want the knowledge to protect those I care about!" He growled, the vision of himself and Ashei moving through the forests of Ordon. They had been ambushed by Bulblin archers, and he had lept in front of Ashei to defend her, taking an arrow through the right side of his chest. Ashei had dragged him out of harm's way at great risk to herself, even though he begged her to leave him.
She had refused.
Not long after that, they had hidden in tree hollow and waited for the Bulblins to lose interest while she tended to his injuries. It was the first time he had seen her so worried about anything since he'd met her. After she had bound his wounds, she had held him close, calling him every name she could think of. It was also the first time he had ever seen her cry.
As the memory slowly started to fade, the words that Ashei had spoken haunted him. "My life is yours, now," she had said, "Don't ever forget that!"
"STOP IT!" Shad roared, breaking the contact between them, and staggering back, glaring at the woman with pure fury, "Take your damned knowledge back! And give me back my memories!"
Fi floated away from him, regarding the man curiously, "I do not understand. Do you not want the knowledge offered by this place?"
"Of course I do!" Shad roared, "But the price is far too great to pay!" He said, "I refuse to forget about her! And if gaining any such knowledge means I have to forsake the bonds I've made through my life, then I'd rather be a fool!"
Fi regarded him for a moment, and smiled, "You have passed your trial." Shad's eyes widened in shock. "To forsake others for the sake of gaining knowledge is to forsake life itself, therefore forsaking true knowledge which is gained through experience." She held out her hand, producing a large shoulder bag, "Within this is the knowledge you wished to take from these Archives." She held it out for him to take, "Use it wisely."
Shad reached out hesitantly, "But..what about my memories?"
"I shall return them upon leaving this place," she said, smiling at him, "Link has also his trial, and is on his way back now...you should join him."
Shad took hold of the back and slung it over his shoulder, "These trials...were they meant to test our resolve...or teach us a lesson?"
Fi smiled at him, "A bit of both, I believe."
=x=
Link came back into the burial chamber around the same time that Shad did, both of them looking somber. "Oh, Shad...did you find what you were looking for?" Link asked.
"I did," he said, nodding slowly, "You?"
Link shrugged and pointed to his belt, "I picked up a few things." He said, making Shad look at him curiously, "Fi came looking for me and point this pouch out. Apparently it holds quite a bit." He said, looking around the room, "Where's Linkle?"
"Here!" Link nearly jumped out of his skin as the popped up from behind one of the tombs, "Oops, did I scare you?"
Shad chuckled, "You could say that...what were you doing down there?"
"Nothing really," Linkle said, blushing slightly.
Link gave her an annoyed look, "You fell asleep, didn't you?"
"No!" Linkle huffed, crossing her arms, "I had a long talk with the Hero of Time!"
Link smirked, "Really?"
"Yes, really!"
"Then why is there drool on your chin?" Link asked with a grin, making the girl squeak in alarm while scrubbing her face. The motions caused something to fall from her cloak and clatter to the floor. Link saw that it was actually two somethings. A golden bow, and a harp made of gold not unlike the one he had seen Zelda play. "Where did you get those?"
"Oh," Linkle hurriedly gathered to two items up, and hid them behind her back, "Miss Fi gave them to me a little while ago...it's true!" She said when a look of doubt crossed their faces.
"The little one speaks the truth," Fi said as she drifted into the room, "She spoke with the previous Hero, and tasked me with gifting her with those items you see."
"See?!" Linkle pouted, "I'd never lie to you guys!"
Link grunted out a laugh, "I never doubted you, Linkle."
"Meanie."
Shad chuckled again, "We should get going," he said, smiling at the spirit, "We thank you for your generosity, and for your...guidance. I just hope we aren't too late in the use of what we've attained."
"Think nothing of it," Fi smiled kindly, "I am only sorry that the trials took such a toll on you all. Know that should you come again, you may do so without taking on such trials."
"Thank you," Link said somberly, "We'll go now."
Linkle bowed in Fi's direction, "Thank you very much, Miss Fi."
Fi nodded to the girl, "Take care little one. And all of you, remember what you have learned here."
With that she faded away.
Link sighed, "Come on, let's get out of here." He said, "I need some fresh air."
Shad nodded and followed after the man, Linkle bringing up the rear. The girl looked back over her shoulder at the crypt that held the sad Hero. His words to her rang in her ears like the toll of a bell.
Unlike the Hero, Hylia is not reborn nearly as often. She is the reason I was unable to rest as my days wore on. I searched for her, deluding myself into thinking I was searching for my lost friend, but in truth, I was searching for my other half...but she had not yet been reborn, even though she soon would be. But what I didn't know was that Hylia isn't always reborn as the Princess or Hyrule.
She held the harp Fi had given her closely, "What does that mean?"
"Linkle," Link yelled from the halls, "Keep up! I don't wanna leave you behind!"
"Coming!" Linkle yelped, and hurried after them, momentarily forgetting her worries. Link was waiting for her at the entrance as Shad stretched himself in the evening light.
Link smirked as she came up to him, and patted her on the head, "What am I gonna do with you?" He smiled, ruffling her hair, "Some Knight you're going to be if you keep lagging behind like that."
"I'm sorry," Linkle pouted.
Link sighed and placed his arm around her shoulders, "Hey, don't worry, just don't - "
THUD
Link blanched as he felt the familiar concussion of a downward beat of a pair massive wings. "Linkle, Shad," he said quietly, reaching for his sword, "run for the trees, and don't you dare look back."
Linkle looked up at him frightenedly, "M-Mister Link?"
"What's happening?!" Shad asked, "What was that - "
THUD
Link glared at the man, "Just go! There's no time to explain!" He hissed before ushering Linkle toward the stone gates.
THUD
The sound grew louder, shaking the very air as it drew nearer. Dammit, please don't be what I think that is! Link silently prayed as he pushed his friends behind a nearby boulder, forgetting about fleeing. "Whatever you two do, do not come out until I say so!"
Before either of them could protest, a massive roar sounded across the courtyard. Link scanned the skies as the thundering sound of the wings seemed to be right over head, his shield and sword ready.
Suddenly, a blast of fire hit the ground right beside him, knocking him away from the boulder and rolling toward the center of the courtyard, his eyes glaring up at the source. The beast wore no armor as the last one had, but he knew it was just as dangerous, if not more so because of its size. Argorok had been enormous, but this beast was nearly twice his size.
The Dragon looked down at him with yellow, hate filled eyes as its teeth dripped with molten flames, its tongues hanging out as if about to savor a meal. Linke and Shad held onto each other in fear as the beast perched just above them, going unnoticed as it focused on the Hero.
Link looked at them for only a moment to mouth one word: Run.
Things are about to get hellish.
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