Chapter 12
Midna's Desperate Hour
Hi! Sorry for the long wait. But here's chapter 12!
Also, one of my reviewers, Kiyo Hosokowa, has informed me that three of my fics: "The Legend of Sonic: Twilight Princess", "The Weapon Hostess", and "Fullmetal Pirate" have been nominate for awards at the European forum site 'Sunset Park'.
"The Legend of Sonic" has been nominated for Best New Fiction, Best Adventure, Best Crossover, and Best Romance.
Wish me luck!. :D
I do not own Sonic the Hedgehog or The Legend of Zelda.
Also, I recommend playing "Midna's Desperate Hour' and 'Zelda's Lullaby' for a really moving chapter. ;)
Lanayru's Spring...
With the last Fused Shadow in their possession, Shadow and Link were brought back to Lanayru's spring where Sonic was waiting.
"There you are. What happened?"
Shadow answered him.
"We had the unfortunate opportunity to tangle with a monstrous eel named Morpheel. Aside from the Fused Shadow, I've received an instrument known as the Violin of Visions."
Sonic held back his laughter.
He never pictured Shadow with a violin.
However, before Sonic could berate Shadow, the two of them and Link, who had heard something from behind her, turn to find a solitary figure standing in front of them. It wore clothing of black and red with neon green markings. Plating on the shoulders and chest, and a fish-like helmet on its head.
The trio drew their swords just in time as Lanayru shot from the water and hissed fiercely at the figure, indicating this being was a foe. But the figure remained calm as a massive force of energy caused the three heroes to fall backwards and the light spirit to crash into the other side of the spring, knocking it out as twilight fell on the area once more.
The figure watched as the three disabled heroes shifted from human to Twilight Form once again, as well as exposing the formerly invisible Midna. The imp recognized the figure immediately, even with the helmet masking its face.
"Zant!"
The figure, the notorious King of Twilight, Zant, used his power to hold Midna still using some sort of telekinesis. Midna's anger became shock as Zant used his power again to take the three Fused Shadows the heroes had collected. As Midna struggled, Zant spoke.
"Did you honestly mean to take an ancient and withered power like this and turn it against me? You are a foolish traitor, Midna. Why do you defy your king?"
Midna struggled fiercely as she bellowed her answer.
"My KING? You, who do nothing but abuse the magic of your tribe? You must be joking!"
Zant spoke, a hint of anger in his tone.
"How dare you? Are you implying that my power is…our old magic? Now THAT is a joke."
To show his anger, Zant used his power to move Midna to the sandy earth and slammed her into the ground. He turned to face her as a glowing red orb appeared.
"This power is granted by my god! It is the magic of the King of Twilight, and you WILL respect it!"
Link, Sonic, and Shadow's consciousness returned to witness the figure about to strike at Midna. In retaliation, Link leapt first, but Zant was quick, sending her flying into the wall with another blast. Seeing Link's comatose form, the two Werehogs retaliated. Sonic was the first to attempt to send a fist into the figure's helmet, but Zant shielded himself with the orb once again, forcing Sonic to join Link.
After seeing this, Shadow growled at the figure.
"Who the hell are you?"
Zant then used his power once again to prevent the black and red Werehog from landing a fist in his direction by using it to grip the latter's throat.
"I am known as Zant. I am the ruler of the Twilight. You and your companions have meddled far enough."
He then sent Shadow to the stone, but not before seeing the three Chaos Emeralds land on the ground.
With Shadow incapacitated as well, Zant was free to take the emeralds just as he did with the Fused Shadows. He gazed at the them for a moment.
"My god was right. I can sense great power in these gemstones. They will certainly come of use."
With Zant distracted, Midna was able to make her way over to the fallen wolf and Werehogs. As she tried to wake them, Midna saw strange black and orange shards implanting themselves into the trio's heads. But before she could grab them, the shards vanished completely into the bodies. Zant's telekinesis grabbed Midna and brought her to Zant, still facing the three fallen heroes as Zant spoke in her ear.
"My Midna…Did you forget? Those beasts are three of the light dwellers who oppressed our people. No matter how much you may desire otherwise, you will never be more than a shadow in their world. You cannot consort with their kind! But if we can make their world ours, Midna…light and darkness will meet at last. Our tribe will take back their realm…and sweet darkness will blot out this harsh light! And that, Midna, is why…"
The 'tongue' of the helmet retracted to reveal a mouth with sharp teeth, surrounded by pale skin, speaking to the imp.
"…I need you. Not just for me, but for all of our people… Lend me your power."
Clearly refusing, Midna managed to struggle out of Zant's grasp and stood in front of the three beasts, glaring at the King of Twilight. Zant, however, did not take this lightly.
"So be it… I will return you to the light world you covet!"
Immediately, Midna found herself in Zant's mental grasp again and was carried over the spring. Zant then lowered the veil of twilight, keeping his grip on Midna. The light returned and Lanayru, now conscious, emerged by the forces of Zant, and shined its light at Midna, who screamed in agony. Light surrounded the imp and both her and the light spirit vanished.
Thinking that the imp was done with, Zant turned to deal with the three beasts, only to find them gone.
Meanwhile…
Outside the gate of a night-covered Castle Town, three orbs of light landed gently on the earth below. As they were reaching the ground, the orbs faded to reveal Sonic, Link, and Shadow, still in their Twilight Forms. As soon as they felt the ground beneath them, the trio of beasts slowly opened their eyes.
"Ugh…What happened? I feel like I got hit by a truck." Sonic muttered.
Shadow groaned as he rubbed his head, suppressing a migraine.
"Zant. It was Zant that did this to us."
He then felt for the emerald in his pouch, but couldn't find it. Eyes widening with fear, Shadow turned to Sonic.
"Sonic! Do you still have the Chaos Emeralds you've found?"
Hearing this, Sonic looked in his pouch and, like with Shadow, found no trace of the two powerful gems.
"They're gone!"
Shadow growled deeper as he heard this.
"Damn! It's just like I feared. Zant took them."
"But what was Zant doing at the spring? I thought he couldn't come outside the Twilight." Sonic asked.
"I'm not sure, but I thought I heard him say something about a new power."
But as Sonic was about to ask, he saw Link opening her eyes, startled to find that she and her friends have not changed back into their human forms. It was then that the two Werehogs notice something on the wolf's back.
"Midna?" Shadow asked.
Link turned her head and found Midna on her back where she usually was. But something was wrong.
The imp's color tone switched, making her more pale than usual, her face black as soot. Her hair, once a fiery orangish red, now white as snow. She was panting heavily, struggling to stay awake. She didn't even have the strength to sit up, lying on her stomach on the back of the female hero.
"Midna…" Sonic whispered as he helped the imp off Link's back.
It was then that they heard Lanayru's voice once more.
"Link, Sonic, and Shadow. Heroes chosen by the goddesses… Go to the princess locked away in the castle. That princess holds the key that can unlock you from your shadow forms…"
"The princess…?" Sonic whispered.
Shadow answered him.
"I think he was talking about Princess Zelda."
"Do you think she can help?" The blue Werehog asked, asking the same question that Link was thinking of.
"I don't know. But right now, she is our only option of returning to our other forms." Shadow answered as he walked ahead to the gates.
Link followed with Sonic behind her, cradling the ailing Midna in one of his arms.
As Shadow manned that gate, the three took notice of the sleeping town as it started to rain.
"Perfect." Shadow muttered at the rain.
Link, concerned about Midna, walked over to a nearby stall and grabbed a piece of tarp with her teeth. She then walked over and set the cloth in front of Sonic. Seeing this, Sonic used his free hand to cover himself and Midna in hopes of keeping her warm in the cold, rainy night.
Looking up at his companions, Sonic spoke.
"So. How do we get to the castle? Not like the guards could let us in."
Shadow shook his head as he remembered what he had learned in Kakariko.
"No, but remember what Telma said? That there is a secret tunnel leading to the interior of the castle at her bar? I have a feeling that the tunnel is our best bet."
Not wanting to argue, Sonic followed Shadow as Link led them to the bar once again. But as they found themselves at the entrance of the bar, an unfamiliar voice spoke.
"You there!"
Link halted and looked to the sound of the voice, finding Telma's white cat coming out of an open window. Since Link was the only one able to communicate with the cat, the Werehogs could only watch as Link 'talked' to the cat.
"You're Link, correct?" The cat asked.
Link nodded.
"How could you tell?"
"I just can." The cat answered before she continued.
"I'm Louise. Do you remember meeting me in this shop before? Though I don't think we were properly introduced, along with your companions over there… In any case, I must tell you, I'm a bit puzzled as to why you look like that."
"It's a long story." Link replied. "Do you know the way to the tunnel that leads to the castle, Louise? We were told that the princess, Zelda, could help us."
It was then that the cat looked at the Werehogs again and saw the ill Midna.
"Oh…another patient? You certainly are a curious lot."
Louise looked back at the wolf before gesturing to the window she came out of. At the same time, the Werehogs watched, curious as to what the conversation was about.
"Here, get in through the window. The attic is connected to the castle's waterway. It's an old waterway, though…so it could be a rough trip."
"That's perfectly fine. After what we've been through, an old waterway would be like a walk in the park."
Louise then spoke again.
"Well…I suppose all that's left to do is make sure the humans don't notice you. My mistress placed wooden boards from the window to the attic to allow me passage. The timbers are strong, so they can hold your bulky friends."
The Werehogs watched as the cat moved to the side as Link gestured to the window. Seeing this, Sonic spoke.
"That leads to the tunnel?"
Link nodded. Without a moment to lose, the three beasts climbed the crates and made their way inside. Just as Louise had said, there were planks crisscrossing the bar's ceiling area, enabling the trio to cross quietly to the other side, where the entrance to the waterway was.
After several twists and turns in the dark maze, the trio found themselves sliding down the rainwater into a large chamber filled with water. Sonic handed Midna over to Shadow as he helped him and Link out of the water, Shadow keeping his snark remarks to himself. The sound so something skittering about caught their ears, causing them to freeze.
"Did you hear that?" Sonic asked.
Shadow looked up a flight of stairs and growled at the sight of a familiar monster.
"Skulltulas."
With a nod, Sonic and Link ran on ahead, with Sonic upper-cutting the Skulltulas while Link bit their heads off. Once the giant spider monsters were dead, the trio looked to their surroundings, finding the only way forward being covered in think webbing.
Sonic tried to pull off the webbing, but it proved too sticky for him to take care of.
"Damn! Now what?"
Surveying her surroundings again, Link caught sight of a long stick on the ground near a lit torch. At that moment, she got an idea.
If they cannot pull down the webbing, why not burn it?
Picking up the stick in her mouth, Link set on end on fire and approached the web, using the flaming stick to set the webbing on fire. Sure enough, the webbing turned to ash. Seeing their friend's accomplishment, the two Werehogs smirked.
"Not bad, wolf." Shadow spoke .
After obtaining makeshift torches of their own, Sonic and Shadow followed Link to the next room, where it was too dark to see. Thankfully, there were stone lanterns that still had oil in them. The trio of heroes lit each lantern, returning to a lit one whenever the torches went out, making their way to the end of the chamber as Shadow noticed the architecture.
"The chambers as we go further have a grander design than the rest. Must mean we're at the castle."
Sonic looked at the stone before asking, "So, how do we find Princess Zelda?"
His question was answered as Link smelled something nearby.
A familiar scent.
Make that 'scents'.
Link followed the familiar smells of wind-blown fields and iron-and-blood mixture of scents to a soft spot of earth.
Her instincts dominating her mind, Link dug into the earth until the ground gave way and she fell through. Her drop caught the sight of the two Werehogs.
"Link!" They both called out.
Looking into the hole, the boys were relived to find Link in perfect condition on the lower floor. Since there was no other place to go, they carefully followed Link into the hole. It was then that they saw why Link was digging in the first place.
"I remember this place!" Sonic exclaimed.
"So do I. This is the dungeon we escaped from days ago."
Sure enough, the waterway led them to where the met Shadow for the first time in this world. Thus, giving them the direction they needed to see the princess.
After following the trail their memories displayed and crossing the hurdle that were laced on the roof of the castle, the trio made their way to Zelda's tower. Once they were inside, Link took over of carrying Midna as they followed up the spiral stairway once again, entering the princess' chamber.
But once they were inside the room, their search for the princess came to a temporary halt, as Midna was unable to stay on Link's back anymore. As they went to check on the imp, a white gloved hand rested on Midna's shoulder. Looking up at the owner of the arm, the trio found themselves face-to-face with Princess Zelda once more.
Weakly, Midna reached up with her left arm, asking a question as Zelda gently grasped the imp's small hand.
"Please… Please tell me… How we break…the curse on these three?"
Worry began to elevate even further in the heroes as Midna managed to speak again.
"These…these three are the ones… You need them…to save your world. That's why… Princess… Please… You must help them…"
Raising her head, Zelda raised her arm, reaching out to Link. She moved her hand until it was in front of her head, when the symbol of the Triforce, the same birthmark that Link bore, glowed gold. She did the same to Sonic and Shadow. Again, the triangles shining at their heads. Zelda then gave her diagnosis.
"What binds them is a different magic than what transformed them when they first passed the curtain of twilight. It is an evil power."
Looking up from the ailing Midna, the three beasts gave Zelda their attention.
"Our world is one of balance… Just as there is light to drive away the darkness, so, too, is there benevolence to banish evil. Head for the sacred grove that lies deep within the lands guarded by the spirit Faron. There you will find the blade of evil's bane that was created by the wisdom of the ancient sages…the Master Sword."
"The Master Sword?" Sonic asked.
Zelda answered.
"The Master Sword is a sacred blade that evil can never touch. Evil cloaks you three like a dark veil…and that blade is the only thing that can cleave it. But only one of you can fully harness its full power."
She then looked at Link.
"Link…Heroine sent by the goddesses…"
Zelda then lifted her hand to show the three triangles on her hand, the lower left being more of a solid color than a translucent color.
"Like you, I have been granted special powers by the goddesses… You are the one that can awaken the Master Sword's full power to break your curses."
Zelda then noticed the two instruments that Shadow and Sonic had found, hoping that she would have answers.
And she did.
"You two have found two of the most valuable treasures of the royal family, and they have chosen you. While Link bears the gifts for the Master Sword, it seems the goddesses that brought you two here have seen that you are the only ones who can master the power of the melodies that only the Violin of Visions and the Ocarina of Time can perform."
Midna coughed as she spoke.
"Fine… Link… Sonic… Shadow… You can… You can get to the woods… on your own, right?"
Despair began to overtake the three heroes, hearing Midna's statement. Midna then turned to Zelda, her life fading quickly.
"Princess… I have one last request… Can you tell them…where to find the Mirror of Twilight?"
Zelda gave a small gasp of surprise, hearing of the artifact once before, remaining silent for a few moments before speaking again.
"Midna… I believe I understand now just who and what you are… Despite your mortal injuries, you can act in our stead. These dark times are the result of our deeds, yet it is you who have reaped the penalty. Accept this now, Midna. I pass it to you."
Zelda then closed her eyes, focusing her power to Midna. Light shined from her hand and started to shimmer on Midna. The three beasts stood still, not knowing what to do or what was going on. But as the power lifted Midna into the air, she realized what was happening.
"No! Link! Sonic! Shadow! Stop her!"
But it was too late. With a smile, Zelda faded away, as Midna returned to her original form, her wounds healed and her coloring back to normal.
The quartet stood for a moment, gazing at the spot where the princess once knelt. Shaken, Midna spoke.
"We go back, everyone. Back to Faron Woods."
With that, Midna jumped onto Link's back. But before they headed out, Midna spoke as the four stayed a bit longer, looking at her hand, saying something that unknowingly affected Shadow, who saddened at the memories.
"Zelda… I've taken all that you had to give…though I did not want it." With that said, Midna used her own power to help the heroes leave the castle.
Dawn had come as the four travelers reformed in front of the Castle Town gates, ready to head to the sacred grove that Zelda spoke about. But as they moved a few yards away from the gates, a hissing sound caught their attention. Turning around, the four saw a dark gold diamond with black markings encasing the castle.
The four growled in anger, knowing that Zant was responsible for this whole mess. But Midna unclenched her fist, remembering the princess' last words to her.
Without another word, the four headed south to the Faron Provence, knowing that they will be back.
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