The Oracle of Earth

By Pata Hikari

Chapter 12: Fateful meeting

Diran walked down the hallways. Noting that nothing had changed. It was still the same, never changing.

It frightened her that she had gotten used to her prison.

"What's happening to me…?" She whispered, "What did I do to deserve this?"

"Who knows?" Agahnim walked past her, for the first time she noticed that he had a slight limp. "You'll have to ask Onox. He's the only one who can give you the reasons."

Diran blinked, "Where did you come from?"

Agahnim laughed, "I've been looking for you." He reached into his robes, "Selita asked me to give you this." He pulled out a book, holding it out to her.

"Oh… thanks." Diran examined the book, "Um, where is she?"

"She's busy." Agahnim turned around slowly. "We're all pretty busy."

"Oh. Well, thanks." Diran smiled, "Be sure to tell Selita I'm grateful."

"I will." Agahnim answered.

They continued to walk through the forest. They had managed to settle down into a routine.

Link was in the lead, letting the Noble Sword guide them to their destination. He was marching forward at an even pace, his mind focused on the goal.

Saria was in the middle. Chatting cheerfully with Navi and Kalo. She walked slightly wildly, with a wide step.

And Maple was in the back. Quietly fuming. She walked with a short, harsh step. Clearly she was still angry about what had happened earlier.

For a while they followed this routine. Until Maple just suddenly stopped. She stopped, looking around at the snowy landscape.

"What are we doing?" She asked.

"What?" Saria looked back at Maple.

"I ask… what are we doing?" Maple said flatly, "All I know is that I'm following a psycho with a glowing sword. Whose girlfriend attracts the attention of a bunch of weird ghosts and things. To top it off there are two glowing bugs." She folded her arms, "I've been following you people with no real idea what's going on. With only the word of my granny to keep me sane. So I want to know what the hell we're doing?"

"…" Link glanced at Maple, "Do you think we really know what's going on?"

"You probably have a better idea then me." Maple snapped.

Link sighed, "We know that if we don't do this then the world is screwed…" He looked up into the sky, "OK, you're right. I'll tell you everything I know about this…"

"I can't…"

"…why, we promised!"

"… I can't help it…"

"…it's not fair!"

"…it's who I am…"

Diran's eyes shot open. She was in the room that had been given to her when she had first ended up in this castle. She sighed, pulling herself off the chair she had fallen asleep in. "Oy… why am I not surprised?" For the first time in what seemed like an eternity she had slept. And what had happened? Her dreams were filled with the least pleasant memories she could think of.

There was a knocking at the door of the room. Diran paused, wondering why anybody would knock. Then she realized that, despite her opinion, this was considered her room. "Um, err, come in."

The door slowly opened. It was that Moblin in the Butler outfit. The strange mix of twisted mockeries of life and genteel manner produced an effect that was as disturbing as the rest of this windowless castle.

"Madam, may I be of service to you?" It asked.

Diran gave the Moblin a harsh stare, "All I want is to get out."

If the Moblin had heard what she said, it gave her no clue, "Madam, is there anything I can do for you?"

Diran sighed; she realized that the Moblin had roughly the same mental abilities as a brain damaged Chu-Chu. "Just…. Just get me some food."

This was a command the Moblin understood, "Right away Madam." It left the room in a flash.

"…" Diran looked around the plain, white room. The book she had been reading was lying on the ground, open, where she had dropped it after falling asleep. She picked it up. "Well… at least I won't starve."

Lunel hated to be the bearer of bad news.

Well, actually, she liked being the bearer of bad news. Being the Foreteller generally meant she gave the other four Heralds the bad news that revealed the flaws in their plans. It was kind of fun to watch their egos deflate from a simple piece of information.

However, what she didn't like was telling the bad news to someone who, in Lunel's opinion, was nuts. Granted, Onox was determined and powerful. Anyone who could separate a piece of reality from the rest of it was someone to respect. But that didn't change Lunel's opinion of his sanity, or lack thereof.

The highest room in the castle, Onox's chambers, also happened to be the point where the castle was still connected to the rest of Torre. This made it, oddly enough, the most unstable room in the building. Every time she entered it, the room had changed shape, size, and furnishings.

Frankly, it gave Lunel a headache. Not to mention a disturbing sense of vertigo. Still, it was her duty, so she knocked on the door.

A moment later the door opened on its own accord. Onox was sitting on a large couch in front of a fireplace. He sat there, watching the flames flicker. "Come in." He said without even looking at her.

"Hey." Lunel walked over to the couch, sitting down. Now, how to phrase this delicately… "Hey, um, Onox. Remember that crack team of Darknuts you sent after that Hero of Time?"

"Yes?" Onox continued to stare at the fire, its orange glow tinting the room with its light.

"Well…" Lunel decided to take things slowly, "What is your estimation of his strength?"

"He is powerful, but no match for me or my army." Onox said with a wave of his hand, still staring at the flames.

Lunel coughed, "Well, um, General, I would have to disagree with you on that. You see, he is an interesting creature. Rather resilient for a human. The harder you beat him, the stronger he will be when he rebounds."

Onox sat there for a moment, staring unblinkingly on the fire consuming the wood. "So I underestimated him. I trust my soldiers are dead then."

"Yup. Pretty much." Lunel shrugged, "They were nice Darknuts too. Rather sweet, in their own homicidal way." She smiled uneasily.

"Well, then, I guess I shall just have to confront this Hero if he tries to storm my gates." Onox answered quietly.

"I was just about the suggest that." Lunel smiled as she stood up, "But I can see you already thought of that." She turned and walked towards the door.

"I was human, once."

Lunel turned around at the sound of Onox's voice. He had turned his head to face her; there was a strange sorrow in his eyes.

"I was human once." He began again, "But I gave it up. For power, the power to save Diran… or is it Din? I can't remember… my memory… I have no memory. No past. No identity. I lost it all." He sighed, "Tell me, were you ever human?"

Lunel looked at Onox, her eyes flashing the countless colors that existed. "No," She answered harshly, "And you should thank every god that exists that you are no longer one of those things." With that, she left Onox alone. With only the fire to keep him company.

-Well, someone's coming.- Akime said conversationally.

"Really?" Shadow sat up, things had been boring for some time now, "Who?"

-I think it's Hero-Boy.- Akime paused for a few moments, -You know, if you try to talk to me with other people around, they'll think you're insane.-

Shadow shrugged, "Well, I imagine that many people are already of that opinion."

-What opinion?-

"That I'm insane."

-Oh.- Akime seemed to be unnerved by silence, -Are you? Insane, I mean.-

Shadow shrugged, "Who knows? A person isn't exactly the best judge for their own insanity."

-Good point. Well, I think you're sane.-

"So says the voice in my head."

Akime laughed.

"…and that's the story." Link said calmly, "Now can we continue on?"

Maple nodded slowly, "OK." She squeaked.

"Um…" Saria looked around, "Is it just me, or is the Noble Sword really starting to react?"

"Huh?" Link looked down at the blade, sure enough; it was flashing a really bright red.

-What are you waiting for?- A voice suddenly said.

Maple jumped into the air, "Who's there?" She looked around in panic.

-You've been standing over the Essence for an hour. What are you waiting for?-

"Is that the sword?" Maple shrieked, nothing could surprise her now.

"Um, no. I think it's the Maku Tree." Saria said slowly… "A Tree God." She said to Maple.

"Of course." Maple said flatly, "How could I forget the tree god."

"Wait." Link said quickly, "You can tell where the Essences are?"

-Somewhat. I can tell where the Noble Sword is. The Essences are reacting to it. So I can tell where… where you are.- The Maku Tree stuttered, -I'm tired already… curse this weakness.-

"So... where is the Essence?" Saria asked.

-You're close…- The Maku Tree sighed, he sounded more and more tired, -In fact… You almost feel on top of it… I'm so tired… I must rest again…- He trailed off.

Maple stood there for a moment, "So… Tree Gods talk to you people at random times. Riiight…"

Link ignored her, "OK. So we're close…" He looked around the snowy landscape. The snow had stopped falling, though it was still cold. The forest was dotted with massive snowdrifts that seemed to pile up as tall as houses. At some point, they had walked on top of one of the piles of snow. Not a single thing could be seen other then the endless white.

"What?" Maple looked around, "Where is it?"

Saria was looking down at the snow. Her face set in a thoughtful look. "Hmmm…" She reached into her sack, pulling out that shovel. (Link wondered for a moment why she still had it… then decided that it wasn't worth the bother) She stuck the shovel into the snow. She threw the snow it picked up over her shoulder, then she did it again. Digging for a few moments. Then she stopped, she moved the shovel around the small hole she had made, widening it. She looked down it, "We're standing on something." She said flatly.

Link and Maple looked down the hole. It was a shallow hole, with stone tiles on the bottom. They were standing on top of a building.

"Well… this fits our luck perfectly." Maple commented. She shook her head, "Let's deal with this!" A fireball formed in her right hand. "OK! You guys either stand back… or run away fast!" She grinned as the flame grew larger.

"Maple… are you sure that this is the right thing to do?" Saria asked.

"Can you think of a better way?" Maple smirked, "Go!" She threw the fireball down. Instantly there was a flash of steam as the flame spread through the whole area. For a second nothing could be seen as the steam filled the area. The fire rushed through the pile of snow, vaporizing it. A moment passed, and the steam cleared. They could now see that they were standing on a small building. It was square, and made of grey stone.

It was also incased in a layer of ice, created from the burst of steam Maple had caused. Their shoes were also stuck in the ice. "Um… err…" Maple looked at her feet, then Link's and Saria's, "Oops?"

"Congratulations." Navi said flatly, "You just made life slightly more difficult. Good job!"

Vira sat in his room. At the moment the entrance had been on the second floor. But he knew that might change, because the castle changed at whim. He fingered a small black stone with a plain brown strand of twine tied around it. He spun it around for a moment, before placing it in one of his ragged pockets.

A large mirror hung from the nearby wall. The image within the mirror was that of the Lune Perin. It was Vira's turn to watch him. Because as long as they could keep focus on him… they could watch him. If they lost sight of the Lune Perin, he might never be found again. And the Heralds needed to keep track of anything that could be a threat. He hadn't done much, just sit there in that chamber, waiting. Sometimes he said things, as if talking to someone. Or perhaps he was merely staving off the boredom. Vira knew that he was getting bored just watching.

It took a while, but Link had managed to break through the ice and actually enter the building. Now the small group was standing inside a small room.

"This is it?" Kalo asked, flying around, "It's… not that impressive."

Link ran a hand over the wall. There were various engravings. Long lines stretched around in unusual patterns. It all seemed to center around the altar.

"This room's hiding something." Navi said, "Look at the walls… this whole place is one big machine." She flew over to the back wall, "Everything here is designed to channel magic."

"Like a rune tablet?" Maple asked.

"Sort of…" Navi smirked, "Except this room is much more advanced. There's more magic in this room then a million of those things put together."

"That can't be right!" Maple said, "If there's so much magic here I would have felt it!"

"Not if it's sleeping, stupid girl!" Navi snapped, "If magic's sleeping then humans have no hope of feeling it without special tools. And this magic can't be woken up as far as I can tell… My guess is that it's a lock, we need the right key to activate the spell…"

"Well aren't you smart." Maple said dryly.

"Step aside." Link grinned, "I bet I know how to solve this little puzzle." He held the Noble Sword in front of the altar. "Watch and learn."

A moment passed.

"Wow, I sure did learn something today!" Maple said sweetly, "What else do you think you can teach us?"

"Give it a second…" Link snarled, "These things take time…" He shook the sword, "Damn it! You lead us here!"

"…" Saria looked down at the altar. She guessed it was dedicated to Din, tough it was written in a dialect of Hylian she couldn't read that well. Though she could identify an image of a sword being crossed with a staff. She thought this for a moment, reaching into her sack. She pulled out the Scepter of Earth, holding it up next to the Noble Sword.

Then something happened.

The altar suddenly burst into pure red flame. The flames flooded through the grooves in the ground and walls until the whole room was washed in its red glow. Then they felt the rush of magic.

"What the?" Maple stumbled, slamming into a wall. Surprisingly the flames didn't hurt her, "Ack… what's causing all that-"

A rushing feeling fell over them. Then the fires were gone, and the altar had vanished along with the wall behind it. Revealing an archway that led to an unknown destination.

"Unn… that was a rush!" Maple shouted, "I don't think I've ever felt so much magic in a single spell!"

"Powerful stuff." Kalo said admiringly, "Made to last too… Whoever built this place knew how to keep the wrong types of people out."

"Well, how did it know that we were the right type?" Maple asked, "I mean… what kept it from frying… Oh Din what if it does think we're the wrong type! What if this is a free ticket to Hell?"

"I don't think so…" Saria held up the Scepter, "They're a set. The Sword and the Scepter. I remember seeing Din with these two items… I just can't remember where exactly…" She shook her head.

"The Sword and the Scepter are two old symbols of Din." Navi said in her "explaining voice" as Link called it. "Each of the Three has two such symbols… Nayru's are the Ocarina and the Spear, and Farore's are the Book and the Bow."

"Thanks for the history lesson, but I think it's time to move on." Link said casually, walking through the archway.

-He's here.-

Shadow stood up, it was all Akime needed to say.

-You ready?-

"I think so…" Shadow whispered.

-Hope your plan works out…-

Footsteps could be heard now, echoing along the stone pathways. Voices came through… "Me too…" He whispered.

Five people entered the room. Each of them doing a slightly different thing according to their personality. Link, of course, was the first to notice him. He stopped in his tracks, Saria actually ran into Link's back. That caused her to notice him. Then Navi stopped, seeing him, Kalo soon after. And finally, Maple noticed him.

Shadow could easily see the emotions that crossed Link, Saria, and Maple's faces. Link had a strange mixture of anger and hesitation, his eyes dashed back and forth between him and Saria. Maple had simple confusion; she just wanted to know why he was here. Saria… she had a look of pity.

For what seemed like eternity they stared at each other. Yet Shadow decided to break the silence. "It has been a while, has it not?"

"What the hell are you doing here?" Link asked icily.

"Waiting for you." Shadow answered, "And before you ask how I knew you'd come here… I have my sources."

Link shut his mouth before the question left his breath.

"Wait… you know him?" Maple asked quietly.

"Do you?" Kalo asked back.

Maple nodded quickly, "We've… met a few times…"

"What?" Link spun to face Maple, "You know this guy? Did you tell him…?" His voice became angry."

"Link!" Shadow shouted, "Maple has nothing to do with this. I discovered your destination as a result of my own investigation of Onox! She's just… a friend who helped me out once." He took a few steps towards them, "She's not your enemy and neither am I…"

"Then what the hell are you?" Link spun back to him, snarling.

"Link!" Saria whispered loudly.

"No, Saria, I mean it!" Link walked towards him, "I want to know what this shadow of mine thinks of itself."

"Shady…" Maple grabbed Link's arm, "Leave him alone! Can't you see he's sad you jerk?"

"Let go now!" Link snapped, "Like you care about other people!"

"No!" Maple shouted back, "I at least know when I'm wrong! I'm not letting go… and remember, you couldn't get out of my grip when I was delirious, now I'm fully in my right mind. Do you really think you can get free short of cutting my arm off?"

"Maple… please let him go. Link has reasons to be angry at me. To not trust me." Shadow said quietly.

"But…" Maple sighed, "Men… can't stand anyone helping them…" She muttered, letting Link go.

"Ow…" Link rubbed his arm. "OK Shadow… so you want to confront me."

"Somewhat." Shadow shrugged, "What I want is a fresh start. Any issues between us are to be settled now."

"That's a big request." Link folded his arms, "The things you've done-"

"Were done in ignorance and were misguided." Shadow said quickly, "In the end, nobody was hurt. In fact, some might say that things are better off because of it."

Link froze, "That's twisted logic…"

"Yet it is correct." Shadow smiled, "Remember, if it were not for me you would still be sulking somewhere, pining for Saria. While avoiding the issue of Zelda's attraction towards you. I conveniently solved both of those problems for you." Shadow sighed with relief; Link seemed to be actually listening.

"He makes good points." Kalo said, "Things really did turn out for the better because of him."

"Link…" Saria placed a hand on his shoulder, "Can't you…?"

Most of the anger seemed to have vanished from Link. He smiled warily, "OK, you're trying some crazy logic on me… and the scary part is that it makes sense. But it still doesn't change the fact that I'm pissed at you and the only way that's going to change is if I kick your ass from here to Termina."

Shadow started to laugh. "Oh Link! I knew you would say something like that!" He chuckled, "Which is why I feel the need to tell you thing… I feel that the best way to settle things between us is the physical way."

"Wait… what?" Maple blinked, "Um… what does that…"

"So basically you're saying that we beat the shit out of each other until we feel better?" Link asked, raising an eyebrow. Shadow nodded. "Well… in that case." Link reached behind him, drawing a sword.

"Let's get this over with; you need to be in Termina by tonight." He grinned, and jumped to attack.