Finally, we're up to a chapter I have been looking forward to! Disclaimer: I don't Death Note or Legend of Zelda.
Chapter 10: Rescue and Revenge
"This is it," Link said as he and L sailed up to front gate of the Forsaken Fortress, "Everything we've been through leads up to this." "Yes," L said, "And this time no getting catapulted into the side of the fortress and losing our weapons." As they approached the gates of the fortress, L prepared the cannon. "Our only choice is to blast our way through the front gate. Should be easier than destroying a stone seal." As he said this, several cannons lining the gates began firing. L quickly used the cannon they had to take out the enemy cannons, then began focusing on the gate itself. Under the barrage of bombs, the gates crumbled like cardboard. "Now we have our way in," L said, "Let's hurry and save the day already."
As soon as the boys got to the courtyard, they heard a sinister laugh. "Link!," L said, "Behind you!" Link turned around to see a dark phantom emerging from his own shadow. "Impressive, isn't he," came Light's voice from an upper balcony, "Ganondorf created this phantom version of himself centuries ago to battle the Hero of Time. But the Hero proved too strong, and Ganondorf punished the phantom by banishing him to the void between realms." "Well," L said, "I hope he doesn't do something that severe to all his associates." The Phantom Ganon started charging a ball of blue light. "Link look out!," L shouted, "It's a game of Dead Man's Volley!" Link quickly readied his Master Sword. When the phantom lobbed the ball of energy at Link, he swatted it back to the phantom with his sword.
The phantom quickly returned the volley, only to have Link strike the energy ball right back. The volley continued for a few passes until Link returned a volley that Phantom Ganon was a little too slow to return. Struck with its own evil energy, the phantom became stunned. Link and L quickly charged at the phantom and started hacking away. Soon enough, the phantom came out of it and back off, readying another ball of energy. Once it threw the ball, this time it was L who returned the serve. "Well this stinks," Light said to himself, "That phantom is clearly unaware of how good a tennis player L is." Sure enough, it didn't long for L to return a fast volley the phantom couldn't keep up with. Stunned again, the phantom was helpless against Link and L renewed onslaught.
After a good deal of punishment, Phantom Ganon disappeared with a laugh. "Something tells me we'll be encountering him again before this is all over," Link said, "In the meantime..." He turned his attention to a chest that had appeared in the middle of the fortress courtyard. Inside was a giant hammer with a skull motif. "Well now," L said, "I think that may be the legendary Skull Hammer. Not the most original name, but it will most definitely be of use to us." Link took a look around the fortress area. "Looks like they've got the searchlights up and running again. But this time there are no barrels to avoid them. Then again, now that we're properly armed, why would we need to avoid them?" L nodded and pulled out his scimitar.
Heading up to where they knew the first spotlight was, L soon held out his sword to stop Link. "Looks like they've prepared some new defenses," he said as he pointed to some spiked pegs jutting out from the ground in front of where the spotlight was. Link just smiled and pulled out his new Skull Hammer. "Time to break this new toy in." Standing a few feet away, Link swung the hammer over his head and slammed it onto the top of the peg. The peg was quickly forced into the ground and stuck there. After doing the same thing to the other pegs, Link and L confronted the Bokoblin working the spotlight. Before the creature could react, L threw his boomerang to stun it. Link then quickly finished it off with the Master Sword. "Getting through this fortress a second time should be a little easier," L said as he turned off the spotlight."
Light approached Ganondorf on the fortress balcony. Just outside, the pirate ship from before was firing cannon after cannon against the massive Helmaroc King. "They're trying to do more than just destroy it, aren't they?," Light asked when he saw the pirates deliberately miss an easy shot at the giant bird. Ganondorf nodded. "They are keeping it busy. This can only mean they know the two boys are inside the fortress. They mean to make sure past mistakes are not repeated." He turned to Light. "Kira, I know you have defeated L in the past, but do not forget you do not posses the same powers you did before. I had offered them to you, but you refused. If it came down to a fight between you..." "It would be evenly matched," Light finished for Ganondorf, "Even with L now being just a boy. He clearly still has his old fighting prowess. I saw it earlier."
After disabling the third spotlight, and helping Tingle find a special broth to improve the power of his tings, the duo continued through the fortress, following the path they did before. Inside the room leading to the shipyard, Link noticed something. "They removed the hanging lamps. Looks like we need to use an alternate means of getting across the gap." He and L took out their Deku Leaves and quickly glided across. Back out in the shipyard, L noticed there was now a gleam in the eyes of a Moblin statue above the door. "Link, we need to move, and fast." Link nodded, and the two boys ran quickly across the platform, just as a laser beam fired from the eyes of the statue. The just missed the boys as they ducked into the next room.
The duo continued to climb up to the tower were the prison was, taking out a few Moblins along the way. "They must really want to safeguard that prison," Link said, "But why? Why Ganondorf even kidnap these people? Is he just looking for someone and not finding them?" "Questions better for left for later," L said as they approached the tower, "Right now we have more pressing matters." From the top of the tower came a swarm of Miniblins. L swung his scimitar in a defensive tapestry, knocking the Miniblins off the tower or into the wall, Link was quick to deal with any stragglers that somehow made it through. Finally at the top, Link used his Skull Hammer to open up the door. "Let's be careful Link," L said, "Don't forget about last time." Link nodded.
As Aryll played with the seagulls just outside the prison, she looked up when she heard the door creak open. Link and L peeked there heads inside and took a careful look around. "No sign of that big bird this time," L said. The two boys carefully walked into the room. Aryll cried tears of joy as Link walked toward the cell. "Big Brother!," she said, "Ryuzaki! You finally came!" Mello, who was nearby, chuckled. "Somehow I had a feeling you'd return. Only what took you so long." L smirked. "Same old Mello. You never change." "Uh, Ryuzaki," Link said, "We may have one final problem." Link had been trying the door, only to find it locked. L face-palmed. "I should have figured."
"Boy," came Tetra's voice, "You guys really didn't think things through, did you." Link and L turned around to see her standing by the door alongside Gonzo and Senza. "Seriously Ryuzaki," Tetra said, "Considering how smart you apparently are, I'd have thought you at least would now the prison was locked." L frowned. "Well forgive us if we didn't exactly have the time to look for a key." Tetra shrugged. "Maybe, but luckily we don't need one. Gonzo." Gonzo nodded, and proceeded to break down the door. "You know you guys are lucky," Tetra said, "If we hadn't been out there keeping the Helmaroc King busy, it'd be here now ready to snatch you up again." Once the door was down, Aryll ran out of the cell and hugged Link and L. "I was starting to think I'd never see you again," she said with tears in her eyes.
Tetra couldn't help but smile at the happy scene before her. Then she noticed the Master Sword strapped to Link's back. "Wait a minute... Is that... But... How could it be...?" She shook her head and tapped Link on the shoulder. "Hate to break up the happy reunion, but the big bird is gonna be back soon, and it won't be happy." Gonzo already had Mila over his shoulder, while Senza had grabbed Maggie. "I'm sure these girls' fathers will pay well for their safe return," Tetra said. She then noticed Mello. "You look familiar." Mello smirked. "I'm only the pirate captain you ran out of this very fortress a year ago." "Oh yeah," Tetra said, "I do remember that, now that I think about it. Well, we may as well give you a ride back to Windfall."
Link turned to his sister. "You'd better go with them, Aryll. It's definitely not safe here." "But what you and Ryuzaki?," Aryll said, very concerned. "Not to worry," Link said with a wink, "Your big brother has a score to settle with that oversized chicken. And from what I understand, Ryuzaki has a score of his own to settle." L smiled, glad Link understood that he wanted to bring closure to his rivalry with Light. Aryll started to leave, but then quickly pecked L on the cheek first. "Be careful, okay." And with that, she headed off with Tetra. "Don't worry," Tetra said, "I'll be back in a bit. And I'll my crew gets your sister Outset, free of charge." As Tetra headed out the door, L placed a hand on the cheek Aryll had kissed. "You're blushing Ryuzaki," Link said teasingly.
L shook his head. "Uh... Now's not the time for that. We have to be ready when the Helmaroc King comes." As he said this, the floor began to flood with water. "Someone must have opened a floodgate inside the fortress," Link said, "No doubt a last ditch effort to prevent any would-be rescue attempts." Just then, the Helmaroc King flew down from the top of the tower. L quickly looked around and saw a ramp leading up. "Not enough room to fight it here. Let's head up that way." The two boys hurried up the spiraling ramp, staying just one step ahead of the Helmaroc King as it pecked away at the wooden ramps. As the duo kept climbing, they saw sections of the ramp that were missing. "Quick," Link said, "Grappling hooks." After swinging across, they neared the top of the tower. However, the Helmaroc King blocked their way with its massive beak. "No you don't!," Link said as he slammed the Skull Hammer into the bird's head.
Finally getting out at the top of the tower, L saw the very person he had hoped to see. "Light Yagami." Light smirked. "L Lawliet." L raised an eyebrow. "Out of curiosity, how did you find out my real name? Even as I was dying on that day, I somehow knew neither you nor Misa were able to use the Death Note to kill me." "It's simple," Light said, "Remember the Shinigami Rem. Well, she was the one who killed you and Watari. Because she did it to save Misa's life, she died. And I got hold of her Death Note, which had your name in it." L couldn't help but smile. "You always were very clever, and manipulative. But we're in a different situation now. There's no gods of death or killer notebooks to save you here, else you would have used them by now."
Light shrugged. "To tell you the truth, Ganondorf did offer me such power, but I turned him down. Say what you will about me, but I was perfectly fine with only using the Death Note to kill criminals, until you and the ICPO got involved. And of course, other than the occasional pirate, of which there are so few, there don't seem to be many criminals in this world." L put a finger to his lips. "That's surprisingly noble of you. But tell me, why side with Ganondorf?" Light closed his eyes and hung his head. "It's Misa. Ganondorf has promised to help me find her once his plans are completed. And I don't want anything standing in my way." As Light finished, the Helmaroc King flew up through the quickly closing floor of the tower.
Link and L pulled out their swords. "I've got the bird," Link said, "Kira's all yours." L nodded. Link scanned the skies as the Helmaroc King flew across the horizon. Soon enough, it flew in close to the top of the tower and raked the floor with its talons. Link quickly dodged out of the way. Meanwhile, L was quickly dodging all of Light's blows as well as attacks from his broadsword. "I'd like to know where you got that sword," Light said when he saw L's scimitar. "Watari had it made," L explained, "A little something for self-defense purposes. And it's certainly had its uses." As the two continued their sword duel, the Helmaroc King landed on the tower ready to strike Link with it's beak. However, Link quickly dodged out of the way, causing the big bird to get its beak stuck in the floor.
"Time for a little hammer action," Link said as he took out his Skull Hammer. He slammed the hammer right into the Helmaroc King's head, cracking its mask a little. Back with L and Light, Light managed to nail L with a quick blow to the side of L's face. As L checked his jaw, he looked at Light. "You really don't learn, do you?" Before Light could react, L slammed his foot into Light's face. "An eye for an eye, my friend." Light slowly got up. "That actually hurts more when you're wearing shoes." He swung his broadsword downward, only to have L block it with his scimitar. "Well, how about this," L said, "I'm just a boy now, and we're still evenly matched. Unless you plan on surprising me with some dark magic." "I wish," Light said.
Link, meanwhile, had managed to completely destroy the Helmaroc King's mask. In anger, the big bird slammed its beak into the floor in an attempt to destroy Link, only to have him roll out of the way. With its beak stuck again, the Helmaroc King was wide open for Link's Master Sword. After a few quick sword swings, the giant bird was finished. It flew up, rather tired, as the various spotlights focused on it. Within seconds, the giant bird succumbed to its wounds and burst into dust, dropping a Heart Container in front of Link. As this happened, L had managed to stun Light by ramming the hilt of his scimitar of into Light's stomach. Surprisingly, Light didn't die along with the Helmaroc King. "Well this is interesting," L said, "But then again, you probably weren't even in control of that thing, were you?"
Light shook his head. "The Helmaroc King served Ganondorf directly. Besides, it was never his intention to sacrifice me." As L wondered what Light meant, Link headed up a small ramp leading to Ganondorf's balcony. "Ryuzaki," Link said, "Can you keep on eye on him?" L turned to Link and nodded. Link returned the nod and headed through the door. There, right where he was the last time, stood Ganondorf. "Welcome, young one," he said to Link, "I'm very impressed you have made it this far. You do a credit to your bloodline." He turned to face Link. "But now it ends here. Tell me, when you drew the Master Sword from it's pedestal, did you notice how color was returned to lands beneath the Great Sea."
"Do I look blind to you?," Link asked, "I don't think anyone could have missed that. Even the monsters that were frozen in the great hall came back to life." Ganondorf smirked. "Well, there is a good reason for that. Beyond just being the blade of evil's bane, the Master Sword was acting as a key that locked away my full power. When you drew it from the pedestal, you inadvertently allowed my full magical ability to be restored. Don't feel used however. I had my own plans in place to deal with that lock. If I had wanted you to retrieve the sword, you would have encountered far less resistance." Link narrowed his eyes. "You may have your power back, but let's see if you can deal with me!" He charged at Ganondorf, sword at the ready.
However, the Master Sword simply bounced off Ganondorf without hurting him. Ganondorf laughed manically. "Did you really think it would be so easy?" He backhanded Link, sending the boy flying across the room. He then drew his two swords. "The Master Sword has been dulled by my own dark designs," Ganondorf explained, "In its present state, it lacks the power to even touch me. And so, your journey ends here." But before Ganondorf could move to finish Link, Tetra appeared from the balcony's edge and surprised Ganondorf with a quick kick to the face. Landing at Link's side, Tetra tried to revive him. "Come on Link, get up." Ganondorf, enraged, grabbed Tetra by the neck and prepared to finish her. Just then, however, he saw the Triforce of Power in his right hand glow. Ganondorf smiled.
"It seemed I've found you at last," he said with a laugh, "Princess Zelda." Tetra could barely open her eyes. "I... I have no idea who you're talking about." As she spoke, her necklace slipped to reveal an upside-down V-shape. Ganondorf. "Is that so? Then why do you possess a piece of the Triforce of Wisdom?" But before Tetra could even answer, someone swooped in and grabbed her, followed by another person swooping in to grab Link. Ganondorf quickly rushed to the balcony to see Quill and Komali carrying Link and Tetra away. Before the evil king could do anything to stop them, Valoo appeared and fired a fireball from his mouth to destroy the balcony. The sky spirit then flew over to where L and Light were.
"Come on Light," L said as he helped Light up, "We need to get moving if you plan on seeing Misa again." Light's eyes lit up. "You know where she is?" L nodded. "She's been waiting for all this time on Windfall Island." Light smiled as he closed his eyes and shed a tear. "That close... This whole time she was that close." He and L climbed onto Valoo's neck and the sky spirit took off. L turned his attention back to the burning balcony. "I highly doubt that's the last we'll see of Ganondorf, but I wonder why Link was unable to defeat him, even with the Master Sword." "I don't know," Light said, "But Ganondorf often spoke of having found a way to weaken the Master Sword so it could not hurt him. I wonder what he spoke of."
Next chapter: Princess and Prizes
Well, I finally got to this point. Things are gonna move a little faster from now on, hopefully. Read and review.