"I know, with your inclination for spell craft, this isn't your favorite pastime in the world. So I thank ye for assisting me," Syrup says, stirring the cauldron.
"Oh, please don't think that," Mel says, as she descends the steps of the brown witches hut. She places the vials on the little table next to Syrup and continues: "I adore potion making. It's one of the most calming activities we witches can undertake. The resultant potion is the truest elixir in nature. I mean, what other substance can one imbibe that more expeditiously demonstrates its life saving effects? I can think of none."
Syrup chirrups a laugh. She says, "Your ma never felt that way. She-"
"Do you really think the hooded woman was my mother?"
"I honestly don't know. The circumstances are farfetched. I don't even know if the hooded woman is really B. But whether it is or isn't, whether she is or isn't, no one's ever been as talented as her, save for you."
Mel sits across the cauldron from Syrup. The green liquid reflects off Mel's glasses. Watching the liquid, she says, "If you're saying that, because I can perform some of her spells, I have to be her daughter—if that's the sole connection—then I find that theory too nebulous to wholeheartedly believe."
"You were also found in the desert where she was staying. You know that. But the things you can do with but a wand and grimoire…well, I don't think you realize how rare that talent is," Syrup shakes her head as she stirs. She leans over the cauldron and says, "It's magic!"
Mel laughs and blushes. "It's not like everyone who can be a witch does."
"You'd be surprised," says Fanadi, hooded in her black Sheikah robes, emerging from the doorway of the hut. "A witch always somewhat reveals herself."
"What does that mean?" Mel asks.
"Of course, some with great capacity for magic never realize it. More often than not, though, the girls come searching for us. Cast out of homes and villages for being 'dangerous,' they seek refuge in the only place that will accept them. Incidentally, I'm the best place to be for girls with that kind of skillset.
"Fanadi and I have seen so many come and go. And most who are special only use their talents sparingly: potions to help loved ones; spells to ease their lives; familiars to help around the home. It is rare that a witch appears in the news for a heinous abuse of powers. You don't oft hear about witches murdering or subjugating people. And that's not because there are no bad apples among witches. It's because it's so rare a witch who possesses those abilities."
Mel blushes. "I appreciate your trust, and I only hope that, when I am called upon, I can be as helpful as you believe I can."
"That's if the Count ever actually employs your assistance," Fanadi says, approaching the elder witch and pupil. "He treats us second rate, even though it was my prophecy that selected Ruby, as well as your potions that help the whole party recover from injuries."
"Don't be bitter, Fanadi."
"I still don't trust him. One Goron leaves behind the scenes. He sends the other with the fierce, indomitable yeti—our own yeti—on a voyage home. What's that about? Why must a Goron and a yeti accompany but one Zora home? Now he takes Colin and Ruby to Farore knows where. I don't get it." Fanadi continues in a whisper: "Who will protect us now, should something happen?"
Syrup laughs silently. "I believe in Talo," she says.
Talo, hearing his name, cups his ears in the direction of the witches' cauldron. After a few seconds of nothing, he stands rigid and scans the woods. Standing atop the aqueduct, he can see everything around the camp. He can detect any and every threat from a safe distance. Talo' had always excelled in being the lookout, but today he'd rather be with Colin, Ruby, and the Count. He is very proud that the Count chose him (Talo) to guard the witches, but he presently finds his situation insufferably boring.
There is a sudden appearance of tangible black beams falling from the sky. When the beams land, a figure emerges from within. It is Seahorsehead, the strange abalone-armored figure whom Colin, Talo and Ruby previously met. He materializes twenty paces away from the witches, shocking everyone.
Talo is so surprised that he trips backward and nearly plummets from the aqueduct.
Fanadi faints on the spot, crumbling to the ground in an awkward lump.
"Fan!" Syrup yelps, as she quickly traverses the steps of her hut. She gestures for Mel to follow, but Mel withdraws her wand. Syrup grins. She closes the hut door and bars it.
Mel first addresses the threat with a sparkling incantation that shoots into the sky and explodes, emitting blinding white light.
From gauntleted fingers, Seahorsehead shoots a dark green mass into the sky that smothers the light. Seahorsehead says, "No beacons. No help will come this night. You've hidden the rupee and all of you will now die!"
Talo shoots an arrow from the top of the aqueduct, but it simply clangs off the armor, inflicting no damage.
In retaliation for the arrow, the creature scoops up a few blades of hawk grass and plays a tune.
As Talo readies another arrow, a massive brown hawk sinks its talons into Talo's right shoulder. Talo screams and bats at the hawk, but the hawk forces Talo off balance. The slight nudge is enough to cause Talo to fall from the aqueduct into the needles of a conifer below.
"No!" Mel cries.
Seahorsehead strikes Mel across the back of her head with his gauntlet. She falls to the ground and grasps at her head, screaming in pain.
"Never take your eyes off me, girl!"
As Mel begins to stand, she watches as Seahorsehead nudges Fanadi with his boot. But Fanadi cannot be roused, so Seahorsehead examines the wooden hut where Syrup takes refuge. Seahorsehead attains eye contact with Mel and places its gauntlet under the hut. With a snap of its fingers, the hut is set ablaze.
Mel screams and begins to rapidly fire myriad spells at Seahorsehead. Green spikes, fiery rings, icy blue pellets, yellow clouds and other objects fly out of Mel's wand and ricochet off Seahorsehead's armor, failing to have an effect.
Silhouetted by the burning hut, Seahorsehead approaches Mel in a slow, lingering gait. Mel, feeling helpless, cries about Syrup. She says, "It's all my fault. If I'd been a better witch, these spells would've worked, and Syrup would be here with me. I'm hopeless."
As Seahorsehead nears, Mel lunges back and fires the sparkling incantation, the very one that earlier she shot into the sky, into Seahorsehead's beaklike mouthparts. The explosion illuminates Seahorsehead's translucent yellow flesh. The creature begins to makes sounds that resemble coughing and choking. Mel takes advantage of the window to expel her strongest death spells from her wand.
When it seems inevitable that the spell will hit Seahorsehead, the creature impales four fruits on the spikes of its seahorse head. Immediately, four gulls swoop from the sky to prevent the spell from hitting. One gull takes the brunt of the attack and it falls to the ground dead. The other three gulls revolve around Mel. They peck and scratch her hands and face. She screams and falls to her knees, but the gulls maintain their line of attack.
Seahorsehead stands above the cowering Mel. It materializes a spectral sword and holds it aloft in an executioner's stance. When about to deliver the killing blow, it notices one of the gulls catch an arrow in its beak. Turning around Seahorsehead sees Talo, bruised and sliced, with a broken left leg, holding his bow.
"Nice try, but you're a fool. I'm surprised you survived; color me impressed. But it matters not. You're so injured you can barely move. I can kill you without struggle. You should've taken your opportunity to run away. I wouldn't have searched for you. Waste of time."
Talo pulls another arrow from his quiver.
"You filthy humans are a riot! You do not know when you've been defeat-"
Truffles springs up out of the grass and pounces on one of Seahorsehead's gulls. Scratching and biting, Truffles makes Seahorsehead dip and move spastically.
After whooping in displeasure, Seahorsehead's gull eventually detaches Truffles and Truffles lands on the ground. In the time Truffles lent him, Talo shoots a perfect arrow into the vulnerable windpipe of Seahorsehead.
Seahorsehead stumbles back and grasps at the arrow, but it's too late. The arrow has killed the creature. The creature freezes and explodes into purple smoke, armor and all, leaving only the arrow that Talo shot and a few drops of opalescent blood on the arrowhead. The gulls fly off. The fight is done.
Mel hesitantly moves from protecting herself to scanning the scene. She sees that Seahorsehead is gone, and then notices Talo lying prostrate on the ground. Running to his aid, Mel recognizes Truffles sitting beside Fanadi. Before she can process Truffles' presence, Syrup hobbles to Talo, withdraws a bottle of red potion from her satchel, and pours it down Talo's throat.
Mel falls to her knees. She begins to tear up. "I thought you were caught in the blaze."
Syrup smiles and says, "I was, my dear. But the trick of that creature is a trick of old B. She could teleport. I'm sorry that I never told you, but she taught me how to do it as well."
Mel grins and pushes her askew red glasses back to their proper place. She says, "I've never been so happy to be ignorant of something."
The Count and Colin are finally cresting the mountain's summit where Ruby is waiting. The summit is rocky with a scant few shrubs dispersed among the cracks. The night is dark but Colin notices Ruby's face lit by some dim alien source. When Colin reaches steps enough to see what it is, he notices that there is a campfire in the middle of the summit. Behind the fire are two figures: one shorter than Talo, and one taller than most Gorons.
The Count leads Ruby and Colin toward the figures. When the Count and his followers surround the fire, the two figures bow to the Count, prompting Colin and Ruby to look at one another.
The taller one wearing a tanuki mask removes it. He has short blue hair and features foreign to Hyrule: deep-set eyes, a nose a bit too large and a wide, full-lipped mouth. He eyes Colin and then Ruby before facing Vyron. He says, "It's all coming together, my lord. The vessel will be in position by tomorrow afternoon."
The smaller figure, attired in a fishnet, removes its long-nosed mask to reveal a decidedly inhuman face that shocks Colin. The figure has gold eyes like a cat with slit irises. Jutting from its mouth are oversized eyeteeth. The figure's hair is sandy blonde. A massive sword is slung over its shoulder. "It's all almost done," the figure slurs.
The Count claps his hands. "Well done. Well done. I knew that I could trust in you to play it natural."
Colin places his right hand on his sword hilt.
The tall man responds, "I never misspeak when I state that Hyrule's reckoning is coming." The Count grins and the man continues: "But that doesn't mean that the reckoning will come by war."
The shorter creature looks at the tall man and then at Count Vyron. "Titus no understand what Blue man means. Explain."
Vyron says, "What do you think it means, Titus? The rupee and my orders of sacking Hyrule are bogus. The Eyesoar Pirates are being led by a man who wishes to see those very pirates destroyed."
Titus unsheathes his massive blade and faces the tall man. "Did Blue man know of plot the whole time?"
The tall man unsheathes his own greatsword. "I apologize, friend. It was I who hatched the plan."
Titus roars and leaps into the air. He aims a jump slash at the tall man's head, but the tall man dodges and kicks Titus in the chest, upending the short creature. He tumbles, somersaulting five times, before he stops.
When he regains his balance and stands, he finds that Ruby, in only a loincloth, is facing him with sword drawn. Titus attempts an upward strike, but his sword is halted instantly as it meets Ruby's blade.
"So this is the boy?" the tall man asks Vyron.
Titus tries but he cannot budge Ruby's blade. He spins about and strikes from the right, but Ruby ducks the slice and pricks Titus in the stomach. Titus yowls and holds his injury. He eyes Vyron and the tall man and huffs. He becomes black particles.
The tall man hollers, "No," and stabs at the particles, but Titus is already intangible.
At the last second, Count Vyron whispers strange words. He suddenly becomes a colony of bats, which engulf the particles. This reverts Titus back to his corporeal form. It takes a few seconds for Titus to regain cognizance, but when he does he howls and puffs his body three times as large as before. He draws his sword and charges.
Colin challenges the being, but, with one swing of his saber, Titus destroys Colin's sword. The blade shards fly in every direction, one impales Colin's left arm, as he falls to the ground.
Titus stabs at Colin with killing intent, but the attack is repelled by Ruby. Titus' moves are lightning quick and targeted at vital organs, but Ruby's reflexes are fast enough to parry and launch a counterattack. The attack is the spin slash. The attack makes Titus' eyes widen as now his saber breaks. He is then promptly beheaded by the final spin. Titus body hits the ground and it becomes purple smoke. The purple smoke unnaturally evaporates.
Ruby runs to Colin's side and helps him to his feet.
Colin is gripping his left arm with his right hand, and frowning at his broken sword. He is injured but not severely. He asks, "What is this? What just happened?"
The Count laughs. "Listen to the grasshoppers. You hear them? They are the sound of your fears being eviscerated. I am your ally, as always. Now we have grasshoppers. We have peace. That is what happened."
"Did you turn into bats?" Colin asks.
"I know magic. I am part of the royal family. It is not out of the realm of possibility."
The tall man kneels before Vyron. He says, "It was my fault it all transpired so poorly. I jeopardized the mission. I've failed you."
Count Vyron shakes his head and laughs. "No. This was patently my mistake. I kept my allies in the dark so as to induce their natural reactions when you revealed the truth. But their ignorance just tainted the entire affair. My allies did not know what I wished them to do, and they didn't fully trust me. At the same time, I had to be cautious because I know that Titus was sniffing around. He was questioning you and me, Blue."
The Blue man stands. "That he was. But I could've performed better. I should've struck him down before he tried to escape. My reactions were too slow."
"Ah," Count Vyron says, "but now you've witnessed our hero first hand. In all the possible outcomes I predicted, this was my favorite. Do you see why I place so much faith in him? He is the Hero reincarnate."
The tall man nods and walks toward Ruby. He extends his hand and says, "My name is Javei, but most call me 'Blue,' 'Blue Man,' or even 'Blueman.' Nice to meet you."
Ruby shakes his hand and says, "I am Ruby…Red. Ruby Red."
Colin shakes his hand, but his eyes betray the greeting.
Javei grins and walks away. He speaks, to nobody in particular, "If we are to emerge victorious, we will need to work together. The Eyesoar pirates are monsters, but I am among their ranks. They trust me. Maybe they won't when I arrive without my partner, but I must try. My cooperation with them is integral to their downfall. For what brings down teams faster than inner turmoil? Nothing."
The Count addresses everyone. "These pirates are serious. They are going to Hyrule as we speak, upon a ghost ship that can travel through solid land. The ship is loaded to the gills with weapons and all the members are incredibly powerful. The Captain has incredible reflexes and unparalleled skill with a bow. The first mate is the size and strength of ten men. Monkshood, the most powerful witch I've ever known, is even on that ship. The situation is very dire indeed. But we have the better hand. Their ship cannot become tangible unless it is on the water. This means that while they cannot be touched, they also cannot touch anyone else. Knowing this, there is only one place they can go. There is only one place large enough and with deep enough water."
"Are you saying that they will unknowingly be sailing into an ambush?" Colin asks.
"When Gar and I debated strategy at the water's edge, he intimated that I owed him the truth about everything. And he was right. So I did. Upon completion, he immediately departed for Hyrule proper. Right now, he's in Zora's domain with twenty gorons. Ashei has fifty Hyrule soldiers. Every Zora warrior is also fighting. They are armed. They are ready. And we must all depart for Hyrule.
"Wait," Colin says, "But if Yetu is bringing the Sanguine Rupee to Hyrule, shouldn't he turn around?"
Count Vyron smiles. "You're very right, Colin. But the Sanguine Rupee isn't the powerful talisman they think it is. Ruby's sword is the key all along: the Four Sword of legend.
