I'm just calling the little eyes in the Malice the Eye because that's the only name I know to call them, unless of course they have an official name that I do not know about. In which case I would love to hear it.
God this is so bad it's somewhat rushed since I don't want to go dead on you guys
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Link couldn't see anything beyond the Divine Beast through the sandstorm that surrounded it. Naboris remained quiet, continuing on as it always did, as if it wasn't aware of the trio standing on the platform jutting out of its underside. A guidance stone stood in a similar position to the one in Gerudo Town, but it held no orange glow like the others; it stood as a useless, dark pillar that taunted them cruelly. Here, there was a circle to mark the portal. The platform swayed with Naboris's movements, sometimes badly enough for them to stumble.
"You are damn lucky you are the chief of the Gerudo, you fucking brat."
Link whipped around to find Riju leaning back, her legs bent at the knees and her arms held up, ready to shield her body. Ghirahim leaned over her, the calm he held in Gerudo Town shattering almost immediately and his face contorted into near rage. Riju, on the other hand, simply looked shocked beyond words.
Link stepped toward them. There was no use in being quiet anymore. "Ghirahim, stop."
Now Ghirahim rounded on him. "No! This little dumbass right here thought it was a good idea to make us drag her along! She's the fucking chief of the Gerudo! And a child, no less! Even Zelda was older than her!"
Riju continued to stare at them, eyes wide and mouth hanging open. Finally, she spat one word: "Voe!?"
"She barely knows Hylian!" Ghirahim had stepped dangerously close, their noses only inches apart, dark eyes burning into blue ones and blue eyes burning into dark ones. "We can barely communicate!" For the most part, Riju went ignored.
Link yanked off his veil, deciding it was useless now. Riju gawked at him as well. "What do you think I could do? Or Brutela could do?" he spat back, pushing Ghirahim away. "And it's too late now, anyway. We're here."
Having recovered her senses, Riju stepped between them, shoving them apart. "Stop!"
Link and Ghirahim reluctantly fell silent, but their glares never broke.
"Stop," she said, calmer now. "It's...quiet."
The three went completely silent, listening to the howl of the sandstorm. Nothing growled, shifted within the Divine Beast, or anything. The only other sound was the Calamity Goo within, gurgling.
"I don't think Naboris knows we're here," Link said, voice lowered. Could it even hear them?
"I don't hear nothing," Riju said. "What is controlling Vah Naboris?"
"Same thing that caused the Calamity," Link answered, though he wasn't sure if she fully comprehended the sentence, judging by the expression on her face.
"You would think Ganon has better security," Ghirahim said, voice lowered as well. His anger had left as abruptly as it came. "It's probably inside. Sleeping, maybe."
Or waiting. Link gulped, the fear suddenly chilling him to his core. Ganon expected them to go inside to investigate. That was why it was so quiet. It intended to trap them like prey.
As if he sensed his fear, Ghirahim turned his head to look at him. "What?"
"Maybe it's just waiting."
Ghirahim pursed his lips, turning to the ramp that took them inside the Divine Beast. "You know, last time you thought something pessimistic like that you were right."
"When?"
"Guardians."
Link wanted to try to get more than just that single word from him, but he restrained himself; with the lack of an explanation, he doubted that Ghirahim would be willing to go into detail. Not without leaving him alone with Riju. And he could probably figure it out later.
"Well, I suppose we should get going," Ghirahim said, motioning for Link and Riju to follow. "We can't be here all day."
Inside, he found that Naboris was separated into different rooms, as if the Beast had intended to serve as temporary housing. The room he was currently in had a rack with hangers that had been scattered through out the room along with ripped, worn, and faded clothing.
Like in Medoh, that dark aura hovered in the air, infecting it with its parasitic nature. Calamity Goo was scattered about, and on the ceiling there was an eye that stared at him with that eerie, unblinking gaze. He was quick to shoot it with an arrow.
"You two can't be here long," Ghirahim said. "Not unless you have something that repels dark magic. It'll kill you."
"I know that," Link replied. "I was the one that went on Medoh."
Of course, this was just one of the chambers within the Divine Beast; albeit small, it showed that Naboris was an impressive size. The designs on Naboris's interior wasn't much different from Medoh's; this Divine Beast was simply bigger. Perhaps this one had been designed so that the user could survive at least a week within it, a design that was crucial when it was stuck in the middle of a wasteland.
The Beast was silent, leaving there only to be the whistle of the wind and the eerie churn of Malice. Riju hovered beside Link, obviously preferring him over the demon that blew up on her. Ghirahim was on the opposite side, summoning his black rapier with a snap of his fingers and a chime.
None of them dared to speak, but Link motioned for them to be quiet anyway. He was tense; if he remembered anything about Medoh, it was the robot that had given him his burn. Surely there was something similar on here.
They continued on through a circular threshold, into the main room. Here were two more that led out to the top of the beast's legs. A structure not unlike the Rito houses had been built so that several people could stand and look out at the endless desert and the mountains that separated it from the rest of Hyrule.
At the center of the room was the central control unit, with elaborate designs around the base of it marking it as important. A set of steps led up to it.
On the ceiling was a shapeless mass of Calamity Goo. The mass was connected to several thick, black tubes that ran into the ceiling.
"What is that?" Riju asked, voice quiet. She now had her fingers curled tightly around Link's sleeve.
The Eye concealed by the Goo opened, its piercing gaze cutting through the trio below it. But Link doubted the eye was simply that; it was much too large, with several smaller eyes stuck to its surface, all of them set on the three below them. Then the wires...what were they for?
As if put through physical pain, Ghirahim winced and stepped back, looking away from the Eye.
Link glanced at him. "Are you alright?"
"Don't worry about me," Ghirahim replied, grip tightening on his rapier. "Just get rid of that damn eye. You're the one with the bow."
Link nodded, tugging his arm out of Riju's grip to pull the golden bow Brutela had given him off his back. However, as soon as his hand shifted toward the quiver tied around his hip, the thing, the Eye, let out a screech.
He could hear Riju's breath hitch behind him as she pulled out her elaborate scimitar.
A loud crack ripped through the air. Link glanced back and found that the air around every possible exit shimmered: barriers.
So it is a trap.
He looked up toward the Eye, which now unfolded its four long, spindly limbs. With a growl, it jumped off the ceiling, twisting like a cat so that it would fall on its feet. Now that it was closer, Link could see that the only place not coated with Calamity Goo was the back, where the tubes and wires poked out and kept it connected to the ceiling, or something within it. As it stood up, a metal plate shot out of the Goo and covered the eye. As it started toward them, back hunched and shoulders sagging, more plates emerged from the Goo, turning the spindly limbs into formidable armored arms and legs. What at first Link thought were glowing orange rods sticking out of its palms came to life, forming a sword and shield that gave off an ominous blue glow. Two more robotic arms stuck out of its back, these having actual hands.
The familiar whir of a computer coming to life sounded. Two glassy, robotic eyes began to glow, quickly finding and locking on to him.
It stood straight with similar posture to that of a human's, and lunged toward him with unnatural speed.
Riju was quick to dart out of the way. Link jumped, narrowly avoiding the unbearably hot sword. He sucked in a breath and turned to the monster.
He glanced around to find that Ghirahim was nowhere to be seen. Link felt a pang of horror as he jumped out of the way of another attack. Had Ghirahim fled? He didn't want to be alone with Riju. The mere idea terrified him.
Though he'd only been distracted for perhaps one measly second, the monster had lunged at him again with terrifying speed. The only thing he could think to do was shove his shield in front of his face. However, as the monster sliced at him, it went clean through the shield, and within moments Link's muscles screamed in agony. Crying out, he shoved the shield off as quickly as he could, the heat from the melted and distorted thing only making the pain worse.
Most of the sleeve on his arm was gone, having been burned away. What was left was rimmed by singed, black threads.
That isn't going to heal either, is it? Link thought as he slashed at the monster in retaliation, but it had already jumped away.
Then he spotted Ghirahim running toward it from behind, hardly more than a white blur, his rapier held up, ready to swing it wherever he pleased. Relief flooded through Link even as the monster nearly sliced him clean in half.
Ghirahim only managed to cut one of the wires before the monster whipped around and sent him hurtling back with a single, well-aimed slap, the demon's back slamming against the metal of the wall with a loud clang.
"NO!" Link yelled, trying to run to him, but the monster cut him off with a quick swipe of its sword.
"Careful!" Riju yelled from somewhere within the room, from the sound of it behind him.
Very fucking helpful, Riju! Link thought, nearly snarling the words out loud as he ducked to avoid another swipe. Now he was part of a dance with death, the monster seemingly growing faster by the minute.
He took back the thought as lightning crackled, and with a loud boom, the monster screeched, turning to Riju, who had her arms held up, the hands still brimming with electricity, and attempted to strike her back. But she had the helmet on, and the lightning didn't even hit close to its mark.
Link took the chance to slice through a few more of the wires.
For a few moments, it seemed the monster had shut down, and the metal plates began to recede.
So the wires are its power source.
He darted away from the wall, toward Ghirahim, who had stumbled to his feet. He had a gaping, half-melted gash across his chest that was already beginning to rebuild itself. He looked up as Link approached.
"I'm fine!" he snarled, waving Link off. "Deal with that thing!"
Link, startled, hesitantly turned away, toward the monster. Already it had whirred to life, but now it turned to Riju.
The Gerudo chief held a battle stance, her shield held ready before her and her scimitar clutched so tightly her knuckles were white. She moved cautiously, muscles tense, ready for anything. It was a wonder how she could see through the helmet, which nearly covered her entire face.
The thing swiped at her; however, without most of its wires to power its inhuman movements, it was slower. Link ran toward it, slicing through the rest of the wires with ease.
The metal plates and its weapons died, but it still did not die. It let out an inhuman screech and whipped around. Link jumped back in an attempt to avoid it, but it still managed to slap him away with one of its weak, spindly limbs. But that wasn't what was so bad about it.
Even in that brief moment of contact, the Calamity Goo was quick to suck out the life force within him. He stumbled back, trembling hand flying up to his aching chest.
Ghirahim was quick to jump to his defense, the gash across his torso nearly gone. But...that's impossible? Link stared in shock as he hesitantly removed his hand from his chest. How did he heal? He still felt incredibly weak, but it wasn't as if he could just sit back and enjoy the fight.
The monster seemed to think the same thing, drawing back in surprise to avoid the deadly rapier. It held an arm over the Eye, its evident weak point. Now the Eye was smaller, an attempt to keep them from killing it.
Ghirahim knocked back the arm that intended to go for the kill and stabbed toward the chest. But, while the thing was slower, it was still rather fast and quickly drew back, letting out a growl.
The monster put its back to him, focusing on Ghirahim and trying to drive him back toward one of the barriers. Ghirahim appeared to handle it with ease, deftly jumping back when it tried to swipe at him, then quickly rushing back toward it, trying to get the Eye. He was alone in fighting it, however, because without its metal plates it was dangerous to even touch it, and it was slowly, but surely, accomplishing its mission. It was less vulnerable in this form, and the monster appeared too intelligent to not know that. So why would it adopt metal plates?
Was it otherwise fragile? Were they an attempt to make its body more resilient? That was the only reasonable guess that Link could think of.
A loud crackle broke Link from his thoughts. The two limbs on the monster's back rose into action, their ends pointed at Ghirahim. And at the ends of them were sparks of electricity. Realizing what was coming, Ghirahim held up two fingers, which now held a crimson glow, and the air around him shimmered slightly. Riju did, too, for she ran toward him with the speed of a jaguar, the helmet jumping around on her small head. Of course, it protected her from such attacks, didn't it?
It wasn't enough. Riju wasn't fast enough.
While the small, temporary barrier he'd created protected him from the lightning itself, it quickly shattered, leaving the remainder of the attack to knock him back just enough for him to slam into the barrier. However, for a few brief moments the barrier disappeared, only reappearing when he regained his composure on the otherside.
Ghirahim's eyes widened as he cursed, but nothing could be heard on the other side of the barrier. He pounded his fist uselessly against it. Bested by a damned ROBOT and a lump of Ganon's shit! he thought, growling as his hands tensed into claws. But it was futile to even try; something within the Divine Beast blocked off his magic. Because it's dark magic, he thought bitterly, peering inside.
Riju blocked a slap from the monster with her shield, swinging at one of its arms and coming dangerously close to slicing through it, earning a squeal from it. Her mouth, the only facial feature they could see, was locked tightly closed, and perspiration ran down her chin.
Link jumped toward it, his face pale, his eyes wide. He was the one that sliced clean through it arm.
The monster let out a squeal as the stump of its thin arm squirted liquefied Malice and the other part dropped, falling into a small pool of Malice. Link jumped away to avoid the spray, already weak enough from the simple slap.
The monster held out its hand, aiming a crack of lightning at Riju. She jumped back and screamed as the lightning struck the lop-sided helmet, knocking it clean off.
Link swung his scimitar at the monster as it turned a hand toward him, intending to strike him. It jerked back, and let its spell loose.
The agony that ripped through his body was agonizing and the light blinding. He fell back, knocked senseless.
However, within moments, the floor became visible once more, and he could hear the squirsh of the monster's footsteps as it approached him. A few feet away, Riju lay, completely still, her helmet just at her feet. He groaned, trying to work muscles that protested with the slightest movement and reaching for the scimitar.
On the other side of the barrier, Ghirahim watched, entire body rigid, eyes aflame with barely-contained rage.
Though they were in agony, Link managed to wrap his fingers around the scimitar's handle. Clutching it tightly, he twisted to look at the monster.
For a few moments, he met the Eye's gaze, and it pulled him in as another presence entered his mind.
Don't think I'm a simple little pig hiding in Hyrule Castle, the presence said, the hatred in its simple existence chilling Link to the core.
Then it disappeared, and Link forced his gaze away from the eye. The monster had paused while the voice spoke to him, but now as it regained its senses it started toward him once more, less than a foot away.
Link tried to stand, though it was difficult. He wobbled on his feet. He drew the hand with the scimitar back.
The monster headed closer, its hand held out once more.
Link lunged, his entire body protesting as he drove the scimitar hilt-deep into the Eye, Ghirahim's word's briefly flashing through his mind as the monster exploded into little more than wisps of smoke.
Always go for the eye.
He struggled toward his feet and turned toward Riju. She let out a faint groan, but was only semi conscious. Ghirahim was still stuck on the other side of the barrier.
Link turned to the central control unit, walking toward it with a ginger slowness. The security system, probably.
He felt a cool breeze run down his back, a comforting chill unlike the terror from the monster.
Before he could reach the central control unit, a transparent figure appeared, at first taking no distinct shape but slowly gaining the details and features of Urbosa, the Gerudo Champion. She still wore the hairstyle and clothing she had on before she took her last breath.
Behind him, the barrier vanished and Ghirahim reluctantly stepped inside, kneeling over Riju long enough to check her pulse. With a sigh he stood up and glanced at Urbosa and Link. "Go ahead and do whatever you need to," he said, seemingly unfazed by the ghost less than ten feet away. Urbosa regarded him with a nod then turned to Link.
"Really, spending a hundred years with your spirit trapped in isolation really darkens your mood," she said, smiling lightly. "I can't believe I ever doubted you. Or you, Ghirahim. I always thought you were simply a distraction, but I was wrong." She stepped down, toward them. "I have to go soon; they're calling me. But I want to talk first. Zelda...how is she?"
"I don't know," Link answered. "But she's alive."
Urbosa frowned. "Ah...I suppose she's been fighting the Calamity for a century, so perhaps no one would know. Soon you'll be finishing it off, won't you?"
Link hesitated, but nodded. He wondered if he would be able to finish it off.
"Just keep going," she said. "I want you to tell Zelda that I'm proud of her. I'm proud of both of you."
Link strained a smile. "I will."
"And another thing...you freed Revali, didn't you?"
"How did you—"
"I can...sense him there." She motioned behind her, as if Link could see him as well. "I doubt he said much; he's always been a little cold toward you. But know he cares about you just as much as I do. All four of us do." She looked away. "Never doubt yourself. That won't get you far in this. And I want to see you in the Spirit Realm only after you've lived your life to the fullest. Not right after Ganon dies and especially not before. I know everything that's happened hurts, but you need to be able to move past these and do what you need to."
Now she turned away, her skirt (which featured designs similar to those on Link's blue shirt) flowing behind her.
"I have to go. Sorry we couldn't talk more." She turned and stepped up back toward the central control unit. "Make sure Ganon feels pain, and a lot of it," she said, brushing her hair out of her face. "Vah Naboris is yours now. Make good use of her. I wanna see you incinerate Ganon into a pile of ash. Good-bye."
Even as she said her last good-bye, she began to fade, and within moments, she was gone, leaving Link to stare at the ground where she'd stood moments before, feeling numb and unbearably tired. Reluctantly, he stepped up toward the central control unit, feeling a slight chill as he approached the guidance stone. He pulled the Sheikah Slate, which had miraculously been unharmed, and scanned it. It let out a beep, then he replaced it on his belt and turned to Ghirahim and Riju.
Riju had sat up, her mouth forming a small o as she stared at him.
"Lady Urbosa..." she said, climbing to her feet. "Was that..."
Link nodded and stepped beside her. "Are you alright?"
She half-heartedly nodded, turning to look for her helmet. As soon as she spotted it laying on the ground, she snatched it up and turned to him. "What was that?"
Link only shrugged. She looked toward Ghirahim, who didn't know either. Frowning, she turned back to Link. "What will happen to Vah Naboris?"
Link could only shrug to this as well.
"It's up to you," Ghirahim said, motioning toward the central control unit. "Urbosa said it for herself: Naboris is yours to use for your convenience. As is Medoh, as I would assume."
"But I don't even know how to control them," Link protested. "And I can't even see Medoh from here."
"Perhaps you should learn," Ghirahim suggested, quirking a brow and grinning. "From the looks of it, you can do it all with that slate right there."
"Keep it far from Gerudo Town," Riju said abruptly, making sure her voice was loud enough to be heard.
"I will." He shifted uncomfortably and noticed that Ghirahim had gone dreadfully silent, white lips pursed.
"What?"
"Ganon's getting stronger," he said. "Or perhaps Hylia's power is getting weaker. Even if he's still reliant on the Divine Beasts' security system, he's managing to do much more. He was able to transform that thing to his needs, even if it didn't need four hands."
Link gulped, thinking back to his dream. Riju had gone pale, able to understand that something was seriously wrong by the tone of their voice.
"Should we go back?" he asked.
"Yes. Let's," Ghirahim said, standing up and heading toward the guidance stone. Now the portal was lined by an ethereal blue light not unlike the light he saw in the cave.
Not for the first time, he wondered who the Sheikah Slate even belonged to.
He shook his head, and followed after Ghirahim and Riju, pulling the Sheikah Slate off his hip once again.
He was now sure that it had been left for him. It called back a memory that he'd been struggling to recall since he first looked at it after Medoh. Now, however, he paused and gripped it with ease.
Link, why are you so quiet?
For a moment, he feared that the memory of Zelda's voice would slip away, leaving him unable to find out what the hell it had to do with the Sheikah Slate.
She held the slate out toward him, nudging it toward his chest. "Take it. I think it's for you."
He looked up at her, raising a brow, quietly asking her why the hell she had to come to him at midnight. She simply smiled weakly at the expression.
"I know you stay up well beyond midnight. I can hear you when I pass the training room. And you know Father has forbidden me from researching the guardians, so I can't have him catching me with this. Now, take it. I would like if you tried to find out more about it for me. And keep it hidden."
He hesitated, but took it, remaining as silent as ever. However, even then, Zelda lingered, glancing around nervously.
He looked up at her expectantly. She met his gaze, bit her lip. And when she finally spoke, her voice was quiet, not the usual confident tone that she'd been trained to use.
"Link, why are you so quiet?" she asked. "You've only ever spoke to me once, and that was when I yelled at you last time. The other times, even if I ask you something you won't even speak to me. And you take everything I throw at you quietly."
Link frowned, bitterly recalling the one time he lost his temper. He'd been following Zelda, because that's what he was supposed to do. Yet she yelled at him, and in an instant his calm demeanor had broken, giving way to fury that he hadn't even been aware of until Ghirahim brought it to light. He regretted some of the things he called her that day, but otherwise he was far from sorry.
"Why, Link? Can't you tell me? You've been assigned to me for a while, yet I know nothing about you. You keep your doors closed, never uttering a word. The only person I've even seen you laugh with is… is…" She averted her eyes. "Ghirahim."
Link rolled his eyes, turning to return to his room. But Princess Zelda grabbed his arm.
"I'm sorry for yelling at you," she said. "I was being immature. I realize that now. I just..."
Link shrugged it off.
"Can't you talk to me? At all?" Link could see harsh reflection of the torch on the wall in the tears that quickly built up in her eyes. "We can't just continue on barely knowing each other. Eventually we're going to have to fight together, all six of us and the guardians. I don't know what you think of me or anything, and it's been a year. But you've known Ghirahim for maybe two weeks and he probably knows more about you than anyone ever will. Why?"
Link sighed. He couldn't evade her questions any longer, not without making her angry. And in the quiet, lonely hallway there was nothing to distract her. He tugged his arm out of her grip and turned to face her. "I feel like I've known Ghirahim a long time."
"But you haven't," Zelda said, furrowing her brows. "And he hasn't even called you by your name yet. The only thing I see him calling you is birdshit."
Link felt a pang of annoyance. "You don't understand, Zelda. We're friends. That's just our way of showing it." He turned away, wanting to be done for the night. She didn't understand other people, pushing them around even without trying to. How could he expect her to understand him?
"Why can't we be friends, too? I would think I treat you much better than him."
"No you don't," Link said, turning to glare at her. "And what does it matter, anyway? You forbade him from ever getting near me."
"I'm sorry. I'll lift it," she said, unconsciously taking a step back.
Link shook his head. "Still, you knew he was one of the only people that could...that could actually make me happy and you're trying to keep him away because you heard him call me birdshit once or twice. You're trying to do the right thing, but you're not taking in mind the consequences. Goddesses, you don't even realize it, but you probably wouldn't care if something happened to me. But thanks for apologizing for once. I guess it's a start."
Instead of getting angry, Zelda winced, but didn't protest. Her voice was weak, shaky and she'd already begun to cry. "Oh."
He waved her off and stepped into his room. That was all he planned to say that night; anymore, and he was sure she would tell her father on him and have him severely punished. Zelda never called after him.
"Link, what the hell are you doing?" Ghirahim called. "We're waiting on you!"
"Coming!" Link called, and rushed toward them, putting on his veil as he went.
Well at least now he knew a little more about his past relations with Ghirahim.
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I promise I'll start trying to build more of a relationship between them soon
But wow my characterization of Zelda is so negative
