To Baby Mama Valkyria: They're the same Yetis, and they'll show up more later, I honestly just wanted to get the chapter complete. And unfortunately I'm going to cut the wild wolf pack out. They didn't really add anything and it was probably my least favourite chapter in the original. It's also been such a struggle to write this arc that I'm going to cut it a chapter short. I hope you understand and I'm sorry to disappoint you.
Chapter 12: Scars
Shadow jumps when the dungeon doors slam open. He rubs at his eyes while Vaati runs to a corner and creates a magical barrier. He pulls out a cracking jar filled with a purple mass, places it on the ground and opens a doorway out of the barrier. Once he's outside, he reinforces the barrier. The jar breaks open and the mass begins to expand across the floor.
"A gift from the Goddess? Strange pet."
"The Blessing is with the Princess. This is what is coming to kill us all."
Shadow looks at the mass skeptically. "What's so deadly about that?"
"Aside from corrupting anyone it touches in seconds and forcing them to attack anything nearby? It leaves the skin horrifically burned."
"You don't look very burned."
"Tell that to the Princess."
Shadow snorts. "Okay, I gotta see this."
He vanishes and Vaati rolls his eyes. He walks to the table of ingredients, finding nothing has been taken or even moved. But he can't risk leaving these alone with the knowledge he has. For cautionary sake, he summons another barrier around the table. He rubs his temple when he is hit by a small headache. Strange.
"Dammit, she has a disguise spell up! I wanted to see her look like a plucked Cucco."
"Refrain from telling that to her face."
"But why bring something so dangerous here?"
"I'm going to find a way to destroy it. You, on the other hand, will go get a Blood Rupee and a Truth Lens."
"Why do I have to be the delivery boy?"
"Because these items will create a portal to Olde Hyrule and let us invade from the inside for when the enemy reaches the gates."
-0-0-0-0-
"With all respect, I do not agree with this decision, Princess Zelda," Jack says gruffly. "If we destroy that pass we leave ourselves with no escape route."
"If we leave it open we will be forced to split our army in half to cover all the gates. We must collapse the canyons."
"Princess, are we really preparing for a siege?" Penelope asks, playing with her dress collar. "Would it not be better to meet with the army out in a battlefield? We will be trapping ourselves until this portal is open."
"Their army will be powerful. They have strong, strange creatures that no one in Hyrule has ever seen. We won't have any defences in a battlefield. Here we have the mountains to guard our back and the underground tunnels to act as a shelter for civilians. We will gather as much food as we can beforehand. I've already sent letters to Lon Lon Ranch and Ordon for their assistance. Kakariko and the Zora have already brought all the food they can and are making it nonperishable. The farmers have their stockpile for winter they are willing to give us. The Gorons are bringing metals and gems for armour, weapons and to reinforce the walls. We will have the supplies needed. Letting them come to us is our best chance at winning."
"The Princess is correct," Chancellor Matthew says. "Our preparation must begin with destroying access to the canyons. We will also have to destroy the bridge outside the western gate and have a platoon ready there. Our main army will be stationed at the south gate, with defences inside the city and castle should some enter."
"What will happen with this portal?" Jack asks.
"I'm unsure how much it will benefit us, but if the Gods saw fit to create it then it will be needed."
The council, understandably, look apprehensive at this vague answer.
There is a knock and Alex walks in, bowing to those in the room. "Princess Zelda, Sir Link has returned with his Sheikah friend. They await for you in your study."
"Thank you, Alexander. Thank you for your council," Zelda bows to her council and takes her leave. She doesn't show it, but she is nervous about this obscure portal. How would overtaking the enemy's castle give them an advantage? Zant was a leader to sit back and let his army attack, but was Ghirahim really the same? Zelda doubts it. Maybe there is a secret weapon or a stockpile they must destroy.
No use worrying about that now. Our objective to fortify the city is priority. I hope Ordon and Lon Lon are willing to part with so much food and lumber. I know Ordon isn't a wealthy village.
Zelda enters her study and is surprised when Link runs up and tugs at the hem of her dress, growling playfully. She notices Link's pupils are far too large and far too excited to be normal. She sighs, pinching the bridge of her nose and looking at Sheik, who is leaning on the desk. "Her mental age was reduced as well, but it only affects her sometimes. She's been like this for most of the day and almost got herself eaten by some Wolfos."
"Of course it was worse than I thought. But that isn't a problem now. We have all the Blessings and can preform the spell."
"Preform? It's a ritual then?"
"Yes. A very simple one, at that. The Goddesses had meant for it to be accessible to mortals. Now that everything is in place, I understand perfectly why the High Council decided to destroy the project. Of course, this was back when the Goddesses were younger and naive."
"The Golden Goddesses naive. I suppose we aren't born overtly powerful and wise," Sheik smirks lightly. "Well, let's get this over with. I can't stand Enigma's stupidity any longer."
"Enigma?"
"It's the only thing she'll respond to," Navi says.
They walk, with Link in Zelda's arms, to a small room that is hardly touched. Midna is already there and perks when they enter. On the floor is a rune drawn in charcoal, a circle with three lines with smaller circles on the end. The circles have a different sign, one has an eye, the other a sphere and the final a diamond. Each line meets in the center with a final circle, which has an 'X' marking. Zelda places Link in the center, pinning Link's chain in place with magic. The puppy whimpers sadly at her as she walks to the diamond.
"Why is she looking at me like that?" Midna asks as she stands on the sphere, the Spirit dancing in her hand.
"Mental reduction," Sheik says shortly, taking the final spot on the eye.
Link turns to all three, whimpering sadly when none of them unchain her from the floor. Zelda explains the words of the ritual and that they must preform them in sync. Link's whimpers turn into a sad howl as the circle rune begins to glow bright gold. As the light rises, it begins to change to the colour of each respected Goddess. The Goddess' glow then begins to merge with the caster's own magic aura.
The white, blue and gold magic of Zelda's circle turns into a bright day.
The white, green and black for Midna create a dark night with twinkling stars.
The white, red and crimson of Sheik bring about a blinding sunrise.
The magic flows into the lines in the center, surrounding Link. The colours change to grey, violet and green, turning into the essence of dusk.
The magic forms into a sphere around Link before pulsing outward like a breeze. Once it dissipates Link groans, her Zora Armour ripped to pieces. Sheik turns, easily noticing the mass amount of scars on Link's side and back, and hears Zelda rush to her side. "Are you okay?"
No response.
"Shock. Midna can you carry her to her room? Sheik, get a kettle, please. I'll make sure no one is roaming this side of the Castle."
-0-0-0-0-
I really thought these feelings had faded, Midna thinks as she bathes Link. She is still shaking. It hadn't been anything serious. It was just the circumstances of the situation. She was the only one I could talk to, the only company I had. It had been a foolish, desperate crush. It wasn't real. I couldn't let it be real, because I knew how it would end. We would have to part ways. It was better for both of us that I broke that Mirror. It didn't matter if my heart broke with it. It didn't matter how hurt and confused she was. It didn't matter that I thought about it endlessly for months. It didn't matter that I would wake up shaking in the night, hearing her voice in my head. It didn't matter how happy I felt when I heard her plea. I didn't love her. I really didn't.
Midna gazes at Link.
Yet one look at the real you and all of it comes back.
Why did she have to be the one stuck here? Zelda could have easily done it. She wouldn't have thought anything of it. She hadn't hesitated when Link was cured, she rushed to her side instantly while Midna stood there staring like an idiot.
Zelda did this on purpose, Midna pouts to herself and lifts Link out of the tub, drying her off, dressing her and carrying her to the bed. Sheik is sitting in the chair by the window, looking away from it as Midna tucks Link in. If he notices her flushed cheeks, he doesn't comment.
"How long will she be in shock for?"
"Well she was in shock for an entire night after killing Ganondorf. Of course most of that was due to her back. She should be okay soon."
Sheik nods. "I'm going to go for a walk. There's been too much excitement today."
"Agreed."
He leaves and Midna sits in the chair, watching over Link while she sleeps. Midna yawns, rolling her shoulders as she slouches. She giggles at the thought of what her mother might say.
From the shadows, a tall figure emerges. It morphs from smoke into a solid being, hands stretching forward as it looms behind the chair. The hands wave in circles, casting an eerie, multicoloured light. The light surrounds the Twili's eyes, forcing them closed as she falls asleep. The figure slinks away from the chair and above the Hero. A sharp-toothed smile breaks out across the top, gleaming. A single finger runs across the Hero's throat, the nail sinking in and turning the veins a sickly green for but a moment. The figure leaves the room through the door, skipping happily down the hall as it morphs into smoke once more, a high-pitched cackle ringing through the corridor.
Link walks through a dark landscape, the mountains and ravines blurry and black. She runs her hand along the wall, using it as a guide until she comes to an outcropping. Her foot almost slips, but she backs up and looks over the edge. White, glowing water rushes below her. She feels anxious and steps away, looking over her shoulder when she bumps into a stone wall. Slowly, the wall pushes her forward. She tries to push back, her heels skidding across the floor. Small pebbles fall below and her breathing quickens. With a final shove the wall pushes her in, her screams unheard as the white water pulls her into its depths. She thrashes and tries to swim up, but it's like swimming through quicksand. She is forced to take a breath as her lungs burn, the water rushing in to fill them. She lets out a gargled cry as everything begins to fade.
Then something wraps around her. Filled with panic, she tries to push back and escape. Pinned as she is, her hands can't do anything. She tries to kick, landing a good hit somewhere. Then her legs are held still, making her panic grow. She kicks and tugs, letting out an angry snarl. With no other choice, she bites down hard. Through the muffled water she hears a cry of pain and bites down harder, determined to be free. Her head is pulled back and something is placed inside her mouth. She growls, biting down harder.
Smoke surrounds her. She struggles, but it blocks out her vision of the water. She feels it slide down her throat, burning like fire and filling her nose with rancid fumes. She coughs and sputters, trying to pull her face away. The smoke has entered her entire system, making her freeze in place. She can no longer move.
The smoke lifts her from the water. The bind in her mouth is removed and the white liquid pours from her mouth and nose, being flushed out by the burning fire. It spills across her chest and onto the thing still holding her. It takes several minutes before it is all coughed out, leaving her lungs free to breathe. She gasps and sputters, curling up in a ball as the burning fire vanishes.
Everything fades to black then, slowly, begins to fade into shapes. First they are shadows, then colour begins to spread across them, then they become less blurry. With a few blinks, three figures stand above her. She lets out a scream, thrashing once more to get away from the danger. A hand rests on her forehead, which she tries to bite but finds her energy is being taken away. She lets out a weak snarl before her head falls to the side, her eyes closed and her breathing becoming even.
Once Link falls back asleep, Sheik stands and allows himself a moment to yell, curse and heal the fresh wound on his neck. Midna lies on the floor, covered in sweat and soot from the smouldering fire. Zelda rubs her tender stomach, where a foot-shaped mark is left behind.
For a few minutes, everyone is quiet. Once the adrenaline dies down, Midna forces herself to crawl to the side of the bed, waving a hand over Link to clean her up. "And I had just given her a bath."
"Din's Hell, what even happened?" Sheik rubs his neck. Forget when she was a puppy, Link's teeth as a human are so much worse.
"A very, very advanced poison magic," Midna plants her face in the covers, too weak to do much else. "I told you to be careful. We should have gagged her, I said. But no, you are the expert when it comes to Link dealing with magic."
"I wasn't the one who fell asleep on her."
"Enough, you two. The last thing I need is listening to you two arguing," Zelda says sharply. "She's alive and safe. That's what matters. I'll position more guards for the night, you two help her if she wakes up."
Zelda leaves briskly, leaving Midna and Sheik alone. Slowly they look at each other, Sheik is now sitting in the chair and Midna now sits by Link's side.
"Sorry," they both say, turning their gaze to Link. She tosses and turns, but she doesn't seem to be having any nightmares.
Who would try to poison her?
The question hangs in the air. Link begins to jerk more violently and Midna climbs into the bed, gently picking her up and cradling her like a child. "Oh, so she calms down when held by you?"
"Trust me, Sheik, she was only fighting back so hard because of the magic. She's bitten me once, too, you know," Midna shifts her shoulder, where there's a distinct human bite mark.
Silence falls.
-0-0-0-0-
Sheik's Point of View
-0-0-0-0-
Midna breaks the silence.
"Sheik, I need to apologize to you. I'm always hostile to strangers, so don't take it too personally. I try to be better, but sometimes it's hard to change your actions. And I need to thank you. You protected Link and kept her safe while I was gone. I had major anxiety the entire time we split up, so I was flooded with relief when I saw her."
I didn't expect her to open up to me so quickly.
"Honestly, I always felt anxiety after I went back home. No matter what I did, my mind always drifted to Link. How is she? Is she safe and happy? Is she being treated fairly? Does she miss me as much as I miss her? Does she hate me for what I did? It kept me awake at night and I was short tempered in the day. None of the rebuilding helped settle my nerves. I can't tell you how thrilled I was to hear her prayer that day. I had almost thought it was a dream. Then I saw her again, but she was a puppy. I was so worried about her that I never got to hug her like I wanted," Midna gives Link a gentle squeeze, not enough to rouse her. "Now I can and it's been so long since I've been so happy. Although, it was awkward seeing her nearly naked. I let her have her privacy on our journey, mostly. Of course there were times I had to heal her."
"I was more surprised by the amount of scars she has," I say as I lean on my kneecaps, watching Link whimper quietly. "I don't know why. She's fought so much."
"You weren't there for them and she hides them with clothes. It's not a mystery. I know where each and every one of them are. Although, there are a few faint ones from when she raised Rocky."
"Rocky?"
"Her pet dragon."
"Link has a dragon?"
"Oh yeah, you left Death Mountain before she fought Volvagia. She told me a few times during our adventure about a dragon she raised. He used to bite and scratch her a lot. Zelda told me Link found him again and he still calls her Mama. Very cute."
Link has a dragon. A powerful, thought-to-be-extinct dragon that thinks she's his mother. How could she have found that egg?
"What was the first scar Link got on her journey?"
Here, Midna winces, tracing Link's left thigh. "There were minor scratches and injuries beforehand, but this was the first one to leave a mark. It was a stab wound, but not from any enemy; she did it to herself to save me. I got stung by a hornet and I'm allergic. She fell into a panic, blaming herself for it, and grabbed a crude dagger to get a potion from the ranchers we saved. I was such an ungrateful little bitch back then. Her second major wound is on her head," Midna brushes Link's hair gently. "There's an indent from when her head was slammed into a wall. Again, it was my fault. I had to choose between her and a fragile object. But there was something in her eyes that lessens that guilt, she had accepted it. She didn't even put me at fault. This one..."
For hours, Midna prattles on about the various injuries Link has gotten for either saving lives or just plain bad luck. Many of them are pale, a few of the smaller ones faded, but with each story I feel more awe and pride for Link. Some make me angry, some make me afraid and a few make me laugh. My laugh is what wakes finally Link from her dreams to join us. We all enjoy the stories and tales, Midna and Link talking in sync as they cut in their thoughts at the time, little details the other left out, or when they recall something at the exact same time.
Because of the urgency of healing Link, I could never focus on these two closely. I never realized just how close they really are. Do they even realize or have they just grown that used to each other? They are so at ease and excited, their eyes shine when they look at each other.
A small, ugly thought rises in my head for but a moment. Jealousy? I quickly push the thought away. I shouldn't think like that. These two have been through so much together. This is a bond that can never be broken, even by a shattered mirror.
"So, Sheik, we've only been talking about us. What about you? What have you seen around Hyrule?"
I hesitate. How much can I tell them without telling my past? Link looks nervously at me, her brow furrowed.
...It can't hurt to tell a few things without full detail, could it?
I mostly tell tales of when Sonja, Naoko and I would cause mischief. I retell the boar story to Midna, who gets a good laugh from it, and go further into our misadventures of trouble. I explain that Sonja is a bit eccentric, but very friendly and easily impressed while Naoko is shy, open to her close friends and loves to tinker with technology. She always had a knack for finding Gerudo weapons, since the Gerudo are more advanced in technology. She was even able to find a retractable spear that inspired her own fan-blade weapons. Sonja prioritizes a pair of enchanted gauntlets with spikes, which she uses in combination with her knowledge of pressure points to paralyze her opponents.
They are eager to ask about these two, which I am more than happy about. These stories are innocent. They're just of me and my closest companions.
However, a pair of rose-coloured eyes hover in the back of my mind while I tell them about Sonja trying to be a thief for a day.
"How did that end?"
"She got away with what she stole, but felt so overwhelmingly guilty she took it back to the vendor, apologized face-to-face, and asked if she could work for free. The vendor was very surprised, considering who her father is..." I slowly trail off, horrified. How could I have let that almost slip?
'Is her dad a jailer or solider or somethin'?' Link asks, leaving the question open for me to answer, but not give the truth. The smile in her eyes tells me it's on purpose, which I smile at in return.
"Something like that. Anyway, he accepted and she spent several months helping him out. She also learned quite a bit in mercantile, so she says it was worth it."
'Can I meet your cousin? And I mean for real, not as a wolf where she wants to keep me as a pet.'
Sonja will love Link. But can I bring her here? I imagine Zelda will ask her where the Sheikah are. She'll be less hesitant, she's always wanted to go back. She's always wanted to fix the mistakes. The only reason she's never done so is because of me.
"I'll think about it. Truth be told, I'm not even sure if she's still in the city. She might have already left to find our next destination."
Our conversation is interrupted by a loud stomach growl. Midna coos at a blushing Link while I get up to fetch us all something to eat. Although I pause at the door. "Where are the kitchens?"
Link tells me and I make my way down. A few servants stare at me a bit, but mostly they go about their business. By their ages, they must remember the tense time between our people. I hope they don't judge me on the base of my elders.
If they find out everything my elders did, they will judge without a doubt. All the more reason to keep it a secret, is what I tell myself, but I am having a harder time of it. Link being so open to my choice to not tell has made me, ironically, longing to tell her. No matter how tempting it is, it is far too risky.
But just how will they find the Sage of Shadow any other way? They have always been a Sheikah. Hyrule is in so much danger right now. With this mysterious sludge and a war on the horizon, can I really afford to be selfish and keep Sākuru a secret? Can I really run from my past forever? I used to think so. I used to think I could run forever and be content. That, I know, has always been a lie so I can fall asleep. If I keep running, can I ever truly recover? Can I ever truly heal?
Sonja has been quiet for years. I bit back at her so much in the beginning, I was so horrid in the beginning. I was so horrid for two long years. To my only family left. I close my eyes. She tried so hard, when Link hardly tried. How can a single person change so much in so little time?
I make it to the kitchens. Mindlessly, I gather the food onto a plate. The kitchen staff all nod their heads, not saying anything. Princess Zelda must have told them about me. I'm not sure how comfortable I am with that, but if it keeps them from asking questions I guess I can't complain.
Link and Midna are asleep when I return. They both lie in the bed, Link lying on top of Midna with her arms around her shoulders. Midna has trapped Link in a hug with one arm while the other rests behind her head. I place the food down and turn, but feel a hand tug my arm. Midna looks at me intensely. "You know what will be asked of you in the morning, don't you? Link will be fine once dawn comes so her search will begin again."
"Yes, I know."
"Sheik, just...don't expect her to wait much longer. Tomorrow, Zelda will tell Link what she's learned. Link will feel panicked and the need to find the other Sages quickly. We're already unsure about the Gerudo, don't force her to beg for you to tell. She's very patient, but even Link knows when it's time to stop being passive and do something."
I nod, my mouth dry.
"Good. I understand you've had a bad past, Sheik, but so have many others. We need to take the knowledge from our past and apply it so things like that can never happen to us again."
"I don't know if it's possible for me, but I'll try."
Midna smiles. "That's all it takes."
"I need to go somewhere. Don't let Link get poisoned this time."
"Don't make me hit you."
We smile at each other before I leave.
Unnoticed, I climb the walls and look back at Hyrule Castle. It's a huge shadow in the night, with only a few specks of candles in windows. With a small sigh, I flip off the wall and run over rooftops. It isn't long before I climb through the window of the broken house. As soon as I enter, I get a swift foot to the chest and glare at Sonja, who pouts at me.
"Next time you disappear like that, leave a note. The last time you ran off I was afraid you wouldn't come back."
I wince.
"Something came up. Sonja, I have a favour to ask."