Chapter 10
I take my time deciding what to wear, but I'm drawn to a blue half sleeved shirt with a high enough collar to cover my chest and a pair of tan shorts and brown boots. On the way out I see a white scarf ... I'm reminded of the white scarf I gave Sheik when we first met and add it to my outfit.
"How do I look?" I asked Link who was waiting outside he looks at me with a blank stare, "Is it that bad?"
"No!" He quickly said, "You look really pretty," He said as his face turns red,
"T... thanks..." I said as I blush, "The only thing I don't know what to do with is my hair... It's so long." I push some of my hair behind my shoulders.
"Sorry, can't help you there" He laughs, we pay for the clothes and head over to Telma's bar. We walk inside and she immediately notices us and walks over.
"Oh My! If it isn't Link! You made it! Where's Pura?" she looks around.
"I'm right here..." I said as she looks at me shocked,
"Pura!? No! It can't be!" she looked at me up and down, "We saw one another not even a week ago... but your hair! Not to mention that it almost seems like you're glowing!"
"Do I really look that much different than I did before?" I asked and both Telma and Link nod.
"Well, appearances aside, you two have very good timing. I was just taking about you. Hey everyone! Introduce yourselves!" she calls out to three people sitting at a nearby table. "This handsome young man is the infamous Link, and this is the magically changing Pura." She said as I blush, "You remember what I told you before? These are the friends I mentioned. The ones who are trying to deal with all the troubles in Hyrule... Actually, there's one more of us. But there's been a disturbing turn of events in the eastern desert, so he's gone to check it out. He's an older man, Auru. If you happen to meet him, definitely take the time to talk to him, okay honey? Well, you've come all the way here, honey, so why don't you relax a bit." Telma looks at me, "Come on honey, and let's do something with that hair." she said gesturing me to another room, Link given a concerned look,
"I'll just be in the other room," I said as I leave with Telma,
"Now, let's talk." she said pointing out a chair and I sit down, there's a mirror in front of me and I can see myself. I haven't seen what I look lie in a long time, my teal eyes seemed brighter, but that might be because I've been spending a lot more time in the sun, and my skin... Telma was right it almost looks like I'm glowing, is that because of the Triforce? If it is I hope it goes away soon.
"Talk about what?" I asked,
"You've changed, and I'm not just taking about the hair or your clothes. It almost seems like you're a completely different person. What exactly happened?" she asked starting to brush my hair.
"It... it would take too long to explain... But I've found who I am... sort of." I said,
"Then who are you?" she asked,
"I'm the one who will help the hero stop the true evil and save Hyrule." I said thinking back to that strange magic Zant has... it does not belong to him.
"That's a lot of responsibility for a little girl." she said as I close my eyes, she starts pulling my hair back.
"I can blame my parents for that." I joked and I feel my hair being tied.
"There, all done! Take a look in the mirror and my face turns white as to what I see. I quickly stand up and start to leave the room,
"Thanks Telma." I said leaving the room, "Link!" I yell for him as I trip and fall over.
"Pura! What's wrong?" Link runs over to me and I look up at him, "Y... you're...
"Ears?" I pointed at my ears which were pointed at the tip exactly like his, like a Hylian. "Seriously? They couldn't leave the ears alone? Messing with my hair is one thing but my ears? Really?" I rage on as I notice all of the people in the bar staring at me, "Sorry! ... I'm sorry!" I bow apologetically. As some of the people laugh it off and go back to their own business.
"Ha, ha! You must be Pura, Telma told us that you're pretty vocal." a man with glasses said with a smile.
"Um... yes," I said,
"I'm Shad, wonderful to meet you." he said,
"Same,"
"Telma told us about what you two have done. You're rather formidable... I'm rather not. I'm afraid. Well, I'm formidable at book reading, but I lack, shall we say, physical skills. That said, if history and legends of Hyrule are your cup of tea, I'm your fellow! If you're curious, just ask away." he said
"That's interesting," Link said,
"AT the moment I'm absolutely entranced by the sky beings known as the Oocca. According to legend, Hyrule was made by the Hylians, who as we all know are the closest race to the gods," I couldn't help but look angry, that's why they changed my looks! "But also according to legend, long ago there was a race even closer to the gods, and some say these creatures made the Hylians. When they created the people of Hyrule, they simultaneously created a new capitol, a city that floated in the havens. They dwelt there... and some scholars believe that the race lives there still, somewhere in the great sky. Sky beings... isn't that simply marvelous? What I wouldn't give to meet them." he said, this guy knows much about history... maybe I'll ask him about the last hundred years I missed.
"I'm Ashei," A woman id armor and black hair said, "I grew up in the mountains with my father, who was a knight in his own right. He taught me the arts of war as thought I was his son. Of course, lessons in common courtesy were not part of the regimen, so forgive me if I come off as rude, yeah? Listen, before I blab both of your ears off, I want to tell you something. Snowpeak, the mountain to the north of Hyrule... it's unlike any mountain I've ever known. I don't know much yet, but things happen there that happen on no other mountain I know of... Evil controls it... As soon as I know something more I'll tell you. Until then you should stay away, Yeah?" The way she holds herself reminds me a lot of Impa, there was one more man sitting at the table wearing a helmet covering his face.
"It's been a long time... Link" The man said taking off his helmet.
"Rusl?" Link said,
"My wife, Uli, sent word to me. I have seen the children in Kakariko village. And of course, I have also heard of your adventures! Along with the stories of the mysterious Pura." He smiles at me, "I must thank you for your help with Colin. I barely recognized him... In any case, I'm troubled by my own inaction. I want to help the cause. These friends here... I have had a connection with them for a long while. Like the others, I am gathering information now. I will let you know if I hear anything.
"Thanks Rusl." Link said, "Anything going on right now?" Link asked,
"That old Codger Auru is at Lake Hylia, studying the desert." Shad said,
"Gerudo desert?" I asked,
"Yes," He responded,
"Then let's go check in with him." Link said,
"Ok," I said as we start to leave, "Thanks for fixing my hair Telma"
"No problem, honey, Take care on your travels." she said as we head towards Lake Hylia. But just as we leave castle town we're stopped by the golden wolf and brought to the sacred realm and the Hero's Shade it there waiting for us.
"We meet again," he said as I notice his appearance changing from its skeletal form to one I know very well. "This next is the greatest of the hidden skills I have taught you to this point, and it may test the limits of your endurance... I shall teach you the helm splitter..." he said as they get ready to spar. "It's impossible to circle around and perform a back slice against fully armored enemies that move swiftly in combat. Against such foes, you must first use a shield attack to make them flinch, you will leap into the air over the enemies head and greet them with your blade by immediately striking from behind." They start to spar and it take Link three times to perform the Helm splitter... but at this point the only way I could differentiate the two of them is their different armor. "Don't miss your chance to land that attack after a shield attack." He looks at me, I see him smile and tears fill my eyes as I walk over to him.
"It's been a long time..." I said,
"Your appearance has changed, you look more like your old self." He said as I reach up and touch his face.
"I want to be mad... But all I can feel is sadness at the thought that you lived your life to become this Shade..." I said,
"It was my choice... I made mistakes in my time and I needed to make sure the next hero was fully prepared. Do not cry for me, I had a good life and to just see you again made it worth more than the world." He pats my head, I look over at Link who looks confused, "Keep him on his path, like you kept me on mine all those years ago." He said,
"It'll be difficult... I'm still missing some memories and it's affecting my magic." I said,
"If anyone can figure it out its you." he said with a smile the he removes his hand then looks seriously at Link, "The fourth hidden skill had been passed on. There are still three hidden skills for you to learn... May we meet again..." He said as Link and I awaken from the sacred realm.
"He really is the previous hero..." Link said, "And you traveled with him..." he looks at me,
"Yes... I was taken from my home because the Gerudo tribe found out I was the daughter of the goddesses and they wanted to exploit my power to take control of Hyrule." I explained... but that doesn't feel right... that's not the whole story,
"So not all of your memories have returned?" Link asked,
"Yes... The Goddesses told me, and when I was explaining my past just now something didn't seem right." I said as a thought about something, "Oh!"
"What?" Link jumps in surprise,
"I might find my answers in the Gerudo desert." I said as he relaxes his shoulders.
"Then let's go!" He said holding out his hand, I take it and we warp to Lake Hylia. We look around, on the far side of the lake is a tower and we could see a man at the top.
"Wouldn't hurt to check," I said as we head over and climb to the top of the tower and we was see the desert in the distance.
"I thought it was about time for you to arrive," the man said turning around, he was much taller than us, "Master Link? And Mistress Pura?" he asked and we nod, I was distracted at how tall he is... almost as tall as a Goron. "I am Auru, I am part of the group that Telma kindly allows to meet at her bar. I have heard about your deeds from her. Now... you both being courageous youths... you have likely heard of the strange events in the desert and have come to investigate, no?" We look at him,
"Honestly, we came here because Telma told us you'd be here..." I said,
"You do know don't you? The Gerudo desert once held a prison built to hold the worst criminals this land has ever known... the criminals who were sentenced to death were sent directly to the underworld by a cursed mirror that was kept in the prison." Link looks at me and I nod to him, it must be the Mirror of Twilight Midna mentioned, "Now that the prison is condemned and even the road leading to the desert is impassable. This desert at worlds end... it still holds the cursed mirror and malice of the doomed inmates... these old bones know that evil currently plaguing Hyrule is related to this wicked place. So I have come to learn the truth... Master Link, I must ask... What will you do now?"
"We're going to the desert." Link said,
"Is that so... Then let good old Auru help you out... You see Lake Hylia below us? A man named Fyer runs an amusement ride of sorts there, give him this." He hands Link a letter, "See, long ago, I saved this man Fyer's life, and now he cannot refuse me if I ask a favor. If you leave the rest up to Fyer, all should go well." he said,
"Thank you for your help," I said as we climb back down the tower.
"How is a carnival ride going to help us?" Midna asked,
"We're going to find out," Link said and we head back down to the Lake. There was a house floating on the water, we walk close and I notice the door is a big metal circle, there's an older man in front of the door. "Are you Fyer?" Link asked the man,
"Yes I am young man, can I interest you in a ride?" he asked,
"Here," Link said handing Fyer the letter Auru just gave us and he begins to read it.
"Hmmm... from old Auru huh... ah well, I guess I better do what the old coot says... Oasis flight... right?" what does he mean by flight? "So here you go, one of our secret options not available to the general public... this time is all paid for... so what do you say?" He asked as I notice the smell of gunpowder...
"Is this a canon?" I asked,
"Yes it is little lady!" He said, "It'll take you where you need to go."
"Absolutely not! Do you have any idea how dangerous that is?" I said,
"Pura, it's not like we have any other options." Link said,
"How can you be so calm about this? We could die!" I said,
"Can't you use magic to protect us?" Link asked,
"Maybe... it might be possible." I said, I think I can cast Nayru's love long enough to get us to the desert...
"Then we're going" Link said,
"Alright, sweet sailing buddy of mine. Two for oasis... Fire in the hole!" He moves out of the way of the entrance and we walk inside. The door slams shut behind us and its pitch black.
"I still don't like this..." I said casting Nayru's love around us.
"We'll be fine," Link said as I can hear muffled sounds that sound like music as it feels like the entire canon starts to move. And in a loud bang we're now flying through the air. Through the explosion I lose my concentration and Nayru's love breaks and Link and I fall away from each other. "Pura!" I hear Link cry out as I crash into the sand and everything goes black.