While I was writing this chapter, I was thinking about what I would do after I've completed this story. And I'm now considering a sequel.
But I want to know what you readers think. So I've posted a poll on my profile, and if you want me to write a sequel to this, please head to my profile to cast your vote. If you don't want me to, do the same. And please don't just tell me in a review. If you do tell me in a review/pm, I would suggest voting too. It makes it a lot easier for me to see your opinion. =)
Sorry for making you read this long author's note. Now you can see what Link and Zelda will do.
Chapter 20: Polara
"Two days," Zelda said without emotion.
Two days.
Link and Zelda half-heartedly went back towards the camps on their respective horses. They were wordless during the trip back, and even if he could find words to speak, Link wasn't sure if he could say them. Zelda's face was sullen and cheerless, and he could imagine his expression in a similar fashion.
Just before they arrived at the Council's camp, Zelda spoke for the first time after they left. "Will we tell them of the prophecy?"
Link's shoulders slumped. "Do you think it's necessary?" he asked, his mind desperately searching for alternative to telling the Council. "I'm still afraid that Ashei's opinion will sway the others'. And Ashei's opinion is obvious to everybody."
"I'm afraid of that as well. It's just… they will ask why we went there alone," Zelda said logically. "Are we going to tell them?"
Link sighed, tired of all of these trying affairs. "I suppose it's necessary… Lying is hardly the best way to resolve situations like this," Link finally admitted.
Zelda nodded grimly in response, driving Turin forward. Epona followed Turin right to the Resistance's camp.
Telma greeted them warmly as they dismounted their horses, calling the other four to come.
"In case you two were wondering, we had the Twili create Sols for a long time. We will be ready to storm the Castle Town when you are ready," Telma told them.
Link gave Zelda a nervous look, and Zelda returned a weary sigh. This was not going to go well. They had already prepared for the battle? But surely they weren't completely prepared… right?
"Princess, Hero, where are the three others? We heard from the Zora Queen and Prince that you requested privacy," Shad asked.
Link and Zelda made eye contact, and Link gave her a look that said, 'You explain.' Zelda shook her head, but after a moment she said tentatively, "This news will not please you."
The whole Council instantly became alert. "Go on," Auru urged. "What has transpired?"
"You see, when I last spoke to you about my prophetic dreams," Zelda began, "I did not tell you of every dream I had."
"We can't have you keeping secrets from us, you hear me?" Ashei's voice rang out. "If you do, we will not succeed in this! And this is a battle we Hylians cannot afford to lose!"
"Silence, Ashei," warned Rusl. "Go on, Zelda. Please continue."
"Thank you, Rusl," Zelda smiled. "In my dream," she said, her face sobering again, "the dead told me of a way that the Dark Lord could be beaten… forever."
The Resistance's reaction to this news was similar to his own. Telma gasped, and Auru's eyes widened. Shad staggered back in shock, Ashei frowned, and Rusl crossed his arms, deep in thought.
"And how can we do this?" Telma asked excitedly.
"We would have to gather the Chosen Heroes," Zelda said slowly, "and Midna and I would have to be… sacrificed by the other three."
The sentence was small, but the impact it had on the Council was not. There were mixed responses: Telma and Rusl gaped at Zelda, Shad and Auru muttered between the two, and Ashei blinked rapidly.
"The dead expect us to sacrifice two monarchs at once?" exclaimed Rusl in clear disbelief. "How in the world can we be expected to give them up?"
"The Goddesses must have gone insane," Telma said angrily.
Shad said animatedly, "We can't allow this to happen. Even if we must endure this war, we will not sacrifice our Princess. It is beyond question."
Auru agreed, "We mustn't allow anyone but us know. If this information were to reach the public…"
"It would be disastrous," Telma finished for him.
Ashei had not spoken.
"So… you're… not going to sacrifice Midna and me?" Zelda asked timidly.
"In no situation will we ever hope to sacrifice you!" Shad exclaimed. "Princess Zelda, I'm sorry for my insolence, but you should put greater faith in us!"
"I think we should do it," Ashei stated.
All eyes turned to the woman.
"Ashei, you can't be serious!" Rusl said furiously. "We serve the Princess. And if we suggest that we should kill her, does that make us good servants?"
"We shouldn't only have the Princess's interests in mind!" Ashei hissed. "All Hyruleans are counting on us to end this foul mess, even the enemy Gorons! Do you expect us to just stand here, doing nothing?"
"Ashei, if you think that we should sacrifice Zelda and Midna, perhaps you shouldn't be in this Council," Auru said dangerously.
"Only the Princess can put me out of service!" Ashei spat. "Princess Zelda, do you want me to end my services to you? If you do, I will ignore all my pledges of allegiance to you, and escape from you cursed traitors of Hyrule. And I will join the Gorons in their reign." Link couldn't help but bristle at Ashei's disrespect.
"No, I do not want anything of the sort, Ashei," Zelda spoke. "But you have the power to step away from the Council as well. You obviously do not wish to serve me, so why do you?"
Ashei looked at her furiously. "I will stay," she said, ignoring Zelda's question. But hear me, I do not stay for your well being alone; I care more for Hyrule's peace."
After a long, awkward pause, Auru suggested, "Zelda, Link, please tell us the rest."
"Well, the private conversation we asked for was to tell the other three of the very prophecy I told you," Zelda continued, oblivious to Ashei's icy stare. "But while we were discussing our course of action…" She trailed off, thinking about the capture.
"Ganondorf revealed himself to us," Link finished for her.
That also caught the Resistance off guard. "Ganondorf himself?" Telma asked in disbelief. "He came to you?"
"Yes," Link said. "He heard Zelda and I retell the prophecy, and decided to capture Midna, Zant, and Ralis. I was ashamed that we couldn't do more to try to save them, but Ganondorf's magic was too strong. After all, he has been amassing power for three years. We couldn't get them back."
"Great," Ashei said with contempt. "Now we have truly lost. We cannot win without all Five Heroes! The people will be discouraged if the heroes of legend are not present at the battle. And no one else can hope to match the power of the Gerudo King." Link found it amusing that Ashei was inadvertently praising them.
"Ganondorf did make a deal with us," Zelda said. "If we were to extract and give him Ilia's virus, called the Skire, he would give back the other three Heroes."
"But that would give him more power," Telma said, dismayed. "The Skire is a terrible being. It tears at flesh it deems worthy to be torn. But I suppose it must be done, or else we might as well surrender. So what is our course of action?"
"We have consulted a medic of the Twili, and she states that the virus can be extracted and trapped if we use a holy ingredient called pureberry. The only place it grows in nowadays is the Sacred Grove."
"Ah, the Sacred Grove," Rusl smiled. "We managed to reach it. But it was difficult to examine it closely."
"Indeed," Auru agreed.
"In the Sacred Grove, we will look for the pureberry. But we will have to bring that medic with us," Zelda said.
"And what are we to do while you are gone?" Ashei demanded. "Are we supposed to go to the Castle Town without you and get ourselves killed? Or go to Death Mountain and end with the same fate?"
"Surely there is something you can do while we are gone," Link said.
"And what would that be?" Ashei asked.
"Think about the war and what you have to do. If there's something that has to be done, do it," Zelda said simply. "There should be plenty of things that are not yet done. After all, as the Royal Council, you are assuming my power right now."
"Go on then! Get whatever you need and report back. We'll see you off," Telma said.
"…So now, Marutha, we need to trap the Skire. Will you come with us to the grove? We don't know much about the pureberry, and we'll need your magic to help us," Link said after a long explanation that did not include the telling of the sacrifice.
"Of course I will! If I can do anything to help our beloved Heroes, I will do it," Marutha smiled. Then it disappeared. "Though how are we going to look for it? Remember, the pureberry's scent can only be picked up by animals," she frowned.
"That is where you'll come in," Link smiled. Zelda didn't know what Link was planning, and shot him more questioning glances, which he ignored.
"M-Me?" Marutha stuttered.
"Don't worry, we only need you to find someone that can provide us with a Shadow Crystal," Link assured her. "We don't know many people of your race other than Midna and Zant, so we'll need your help."
Marutha blinked. "A Shadow Crystal? But that is a very primitive type of magic. Surely you should use a newer, more reliable source?"
Link shook his head. "No. I realize that the Shadow Crystal is ancient magic, but I used it during my quest and want to use it during this one. Where can we find one?"
Marutha thought about it, then said, "I do not know who is capable of making a Shadow Crystal; no one uses the spell anymore. But I will take you to the eldest Twili here."
When Link heard Marutha say 'eldest Twili,' he imagined an elderly Twili, gentle and respectful, caring and quiet.
Who the oldest Twili really was… She was quite the opposite of what Link had expected.
The Twili medic led them into a bizarre tent, looking a bit unsure. "This is Polara. She is the eldest of our race, and she has managed to survive through all of the hardships of our realm," Marutha introduced.
Inside was a strange-looking Twili who was smiling at Link and Zelda. She was of medium height and stature, and shadows clung to her skin like any other Twili. But there were strange things about her appearance; her eyes were crimson red, giving her a horribly malevolent look. And the glowing markings of her skin were the same shade of red, unlike most others, and the glowing light seemed to move through the markings like pulsing blood in human arteries.
"Well don't just stand there, waiting for someone to grab and pull you in! Come on in!" Polara exclaimed impatiently. "I hear you two have a huge history, I do."
Link and Zelda stepped into the spacious tent, observing the inside of the tent. To his surprise, the tent was completely empty. Marutha followed, though choosing to stand by the entrance.
"I prefer space rather than useless clutter," Polara laughed, sensing their confusion. "Do have a seat, young ones."
The two sat down across from Polara, still a bit hesitant to converse with Polara. Her appearance was just intimidating.
Polara laughed again. "I realize that my appearance alarms you. Well, don't be too frightened. After all, I am a daughter of one of the thieves that tried to seize the Sacred Realm. It's no surprise that I should look so… ah… unique."
With shock that matched Link's, Zelda said, "But that was hundreds of years ago!"
"And I realize that, Princess of Light. But I am a daughter anyhow. Now, why have you come?"
"We need to put an ancient magic spells to use," Link explained. "No one seems to know the spell we need. Tell us, do you have any knowledge of the Shadow Crystals?"
Polara blinked. "Shadow Crystal, you say?" she asked. "Those handy little things were used just when I was young, very young. I'm surprised anyone here knows what they are."
"Do you know the spell to create one?" Zelda asked excitedly.
"I do. How many do you need?"
"Two."
Polara turned to the shadows in the tent. She put her hand out as if she were expecting someone to put something in it, and slowly the particles of shadow began to move from where they were placed to just above Polara's hand. The particles shook as they crashed together, forming a solid mass of magic. She repeated the method with her other hand.
"And what do you need these little things for?" Polara inquired suspiciously. "These aren't to be bandied about, you know."
Link smiled. "We are going to use these to transform ourselves into beasts."
Zelda looked at him in alarm. "You… you never told me that!" she exclaimed.
"Trust me, Zelda," Link told her quietly.
Polara chuckled. "You two are both at fault. Hero, you should've told her of your plans. And Princess, put more faith into your perpetual saviour," she smiled.
Zelda flushed, and to change the topic she said, "How are we going to turn into beasts, Link?"
"Yes, I would like to know as well," Polara said.
"The way Zant did it to me was to insert the Shadow Crystal into me through my forehead," Link said thoughtfully, thinking back to the painful time that Zant had forced the crystal through his head. "I believe that if we do it the same way, it will work again."
"Hero, do you realize that that was a very dangerous operation?" Polara exclaimed. "How you managed to make it here alive today is beyond me."
"The Master Sword repelled the magic when I touched it. I trust that it will do the same for me again, and Zelda as well," Link explained.
"Ah yes, the Blade of Evil's Bane," Polara said. "Well, that explains it. So you are heading for the Sacred Grove, then?"
"Yes," Zelda said. "We need to find pureberry, and as beasts, we will be able to catch its scent. We are also taking the Master Sword back for the battle."
"Pureberry? For that girl with the virus?" Polara guessed.
"Yes," Link said, not asking how she knew. Polara seemed to be a person that always knew the news.
"Well, I wish you luck. Would you like me to transform you now?"
"Would Marutha be able to transform us later?" Link asked.
"Of course she could. If she couldn't, she's hardly qualified to be a medic," Polara smiled.
Zelda returned the grin. "Then, we would request that you leave the Shadow Crystals with Marutha so there will be less inconvenience. Thank you, Polara. Without your wisdom, we wouldn't be able to proceed."
"I'm just glad I could be of service," Polara said, her red eyes flashing. "Again, I wish you good luck."
Link, Zelda, and Marutha bade Polara farewell, and they left the tent, Marutha putting away the Shadow Crystals.
After Link, Zelda, and Marutha had reported back to the Council, Marutha muttered a spell. Link felt the familiar sensation of his being breaking into black twilight squares and his separated body rushing through the portal in the sky. Beside him, forming a cloud of squares, were Zelda and Marutha, dissolved into squares, like him. The cloud came out of the other portal and rained them onto the ground, the squares coming together again to form his body. Zelda and Marutha stood beside him as well.
"Shall I transform you now?" Marutha asked after a moment.
Link's smile widened. "Yes. It has been a long time since I could run freely on all fours."
"Like the beast you are," Zelda added wryly to the sentence.