1.1.1.1 Chapter 8: Reflection of Friends

"I'm so glad to see you again!" Link exclaimed, forgetting that he was not in Hyrule.

The tall figure studied him through narrowed, cool eyes. She was dressed in traditional Gerudo garb. Overall, she looked like Nabooru.

"Speak fast, fairy boy. Who are you, who do you think I am, and why have you come to the temple of the ancients?"

Realization washed over Link's face. "I'm…I'm Link. And you…well, you looked like someone I used to know. Sarie sent me to find the evil coming from here."

The unidentified person laughed heartily. Looking into her eyes, Link realized that this was not a personage of evil.

"Sarie is a fool. A well spoken fool, but a fool, nonetheless. You'll find no evil radiating from this barren land, only a leader without followers, trapped by the lifeless protectors. Go back where you came from boy. Tell your master to look for another scapegoat."

"Maybe she's right Link," Navi, who had come back out from he hiding place, muttered. "I think we're looking in the wrong place."

"No!" Both the fairy and the woman were surprised at the courageous young boy's resolute response. "You need my help, and we need yours. You're trapped here and we can help free you, somehow, can't we?"

"Listen, kid! In the next room is the only way out that I can take. There's a creature so powerful that it commands all the other horrors that have taken over my people's sacred ground! I can't conquer the abomination, and neither can you!"

"Then we do it together," Link said, and unsheathed his sword. "Are you with me?"

The woman paused for a moment, secretly admiring his courage. "Maybe I do know of a way to defeat the monster. But, I need time and concentration to prepare.

"I'll help too," Navi offered as they walked through the door. "Really, I will!"

Through the door lay a room inlayed with a lust, red carpet running the length. At its end stood a metal suit of armor, stylized in the Eastern fashion.

"I've heard of that. It's one of the ancient Iron Samurai's armor," Navi, helpful, as usual, told them.

"Yes, it's lain here for centuries. Only recently has it been endowed with a restless spirit, a powerful ghost indeed. The spell I know will vanquish it, but I have to enchant my sword. Distract the beast." At her words, the suit of metal-wicker armor stirred. It lifted its great legs, stretched its arms, and began to plod towards Link.

"Com'on, Link! Go get the slowpoke," Navi urged.

Link, shield forward, feet ready to dodge, moved ahead. Behind him, the mysterious woman had begun to utter the enchantment on her unsheathed scimitar.

As Link approached the creature and began to circle it, his days of fighting Iron Knuckles in the Ikana graveyard came back to him. The techniques he had learned flowed through his active mind. He moved in, shield still at attention, with his sword ready to strike. He circled closer, and brought his sword up to the plodding monster.

And the creature smoothly, quickly leaped high over Link's head to safely land behind his back. It pulled out its great Katana sword and struck Link, who went flying.

Link, mentally cursing himself for underestimating the speed of the iron monster, got back up and faced the beast, which was now moving around as fluidly as any ninja master would. Link cautiously moved in, as the Samurai swung its Katana through the air, taking a classic swordsman's pose. Link was fearful of its strike, but had a plan of attack. He held his shield to the last moment as he moved in, until he thrust quickly with his blade. Once again, the creature leaped over him. This time, Link swung his sword over his head, hoping to strike a blow. Unfortunately, the Samurai was still a step ahead, and had already twisted in mid-air to bring down its own sword, striking an even harder blow to Link. He was flung backwards, and Navi fluttered to his still form as the enemy took a victorious warrior's pose.

"Link, are you alright? Are you hurt?" his fairy nervously asked.

The resilient young boy answered by struggling to his feet and once again bringing his golden blade into a fighter's position. Despite the pain, the Hero of Time would not be beaten, even if victory required two or more Red Fairies.

"Link!" The Gerudo woman had began running towards the Samurai, who had turned when she yelled. "I'm finished!" Her sword had acquired a magical emerald glow.

"Hey big guy!" The creature turned towards Link's voice to see an arrow cocked and aimed at his face. As the bowstring sang, crystals of ice traced the magic-endowed arrow's path. The pain of the strike and the freezing reality of the frost made the Iron Samurai stumble back. It turned its head just in time to hear a fierce yell let out by the woman, and to be struck by a blazing green blade, which sliced through the ancient armor and incapacitated the beast. The pieces of metal piled on the floor in defeat.

Throwing her head back, the woman yelled, "I am Banooru, queen of the Gerudo!" This mysterious woman let off a fierce cry of victory. Link sheathed his sword and tightened his belt. Navi fluttered about their heads.

Suddenly, out of the piles of inanimate pieces of armor, a dark blob of shadow raised itself. The creature of the night shook itself, radiating evil. It quickly flowed towards Banooru, flinging itself onto her quickly fearful body. She was wracked with convulsions as the shadow pulled itself into her body.

Both Link and Navi looked on in fear, until Link remembered his ocarina. He pulled out the magical instrument and struck a tune. The enchanted notes of healing flowed through the air and into the body now lying on the floor. The Song of Healing did its work, and carried a dark spirit out of Banooru weak body. It collected in front of her face, forming into a shadowy shape. The last of the evil was cleansed from her body, and a mask clattered to the floor.

Banooru took a gasping breath and sat up. In a small, weak voice, the normally strong woman whispered. "The owl," she gasped. "Death Mountain. You must go and destroy the owl or all hope is lost!" Link rushed to her side and helped her to stand. "That was his minion, born of his evil. I could feel it," she said. "Go now! I can find you later."

Link gave his new friend, who seemed so much like his old friend, a last look of sympathy, and ran towards the exit, grabbing his new mask. The hero emerged from the short tunnel with a newly cut notch on his shield, signaling another small victory in his unwanted yet unquestioned quest to help this world.