Hey guys! Franne again. Thanks to ButterflyBabyBlue, MasterShortPantsx3, ShadowNinja1011, Hanyoualchemist1 and Guest for reviewing. As always, written by me and edited by BlueFrenchHorn97. This chapter is from Bryarly's POV.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
The heat in this temple, though probably worse than the previous Eldin temple, seems a little more bearable. To be completely honest, I'd put that down to a combination of the firesheild earrings and the fact that the temple rooms are interspersed with long outdoor corridors that allow us chance to cool off in the open air.
I can't help but notice how now that we're accompanying Link, rather than following him, our dungeon excursions take a lot longer. We have to pull together to figure out how to solve complex puzzles and use various equipment that Link has received to navigate our way along dangerous terrain. That's not even mentioning the new form of more powerful Lizalfos that are waiting for us in various locations.
But after a long two day haul through the dungeon, we're beginning to lose hope. We're almost out of food and our water supplies are diminishing. Everyone is tired, dirty, and we're slowly getting more and more irritable. I've had to break up bickered arguments between Pipit and Leala on multiple occasions, and even Link is beginning to succumb to his fatigue. But eventually, we find what we've been searching for.
"Are you sure?" I ask.
"This room holds the sacred flame that is needed to enhance Master Link's sword," Fi says.
"Right... but it's what's inside the room that concerns me..." Link mumbles.
"What are you talking about?" Callia asks.
Link sighs. "From my experience, sacred flames or spiritual springs are usually guarded by powerful enemies... like Koloktos or the Sea Monster that we met on the sandship..."
"Well whatever it is, we'll face it together," Callia reassures him, and he gives her a small smile. A look of determination sets over his bright blue eyes, and he nods slowly, before producing the oddly shaped key from his pocket and slipping it into the lock. There's a loud set of clanking and clunking noises, before the door opens with an audible creak.
Entering the antechamber to the flame's resting place,we're greeted by an all-too-familiar chuckle in front of us. My stomach churns at the very sound of that deep, hollow laughter. And then I see him. Standing at the centre of the room is the Demon Lord Ghirahim, his dark eyes fixated on Link as he turns to face everyone. His skin is as deathly pale as I remember it, his smile as twisted, his demeanour as terrifying. I look away, not wanting to watch the scene unravel.
"Oh, hello Link. How nice to see you here, and in such good company!" His voice drips with sarcastic glee as the Demon Lord's gaze now turns to Callia and slowly examines the rest us in turn. His fingers are outstretched, almost tracing our shapes as he addresses us. "Since you're all so eager to cause trouble, the burden must fall on me to punish each of you in turn for-"
I glance up, looking at him once again, but he's stopped dead in his tracks. His outstretched hand has frozen, one finger extended beyond the rest. I watch in confused silence as his expression sours. His pale lips purse as his jaw juts forward: a look of pure repulsion. His eyes are dark, furiously fixated on Zurin.
"You! I should have known that your actions were keeping this band of fools together. Our master may have crippled your powers, but it seems you didn't have the decency to die after we were through with you. Just as well; now I get to throw your useless corpse away myself!"
I turn to stare at Zurin, my eyes wide and unblinking. This is wrong. This has to be some kind of misunderstanding! Zurin swore to us that he didn't know Ghirahim. He insisted that Ghirahim was created after his exile... As I watch Zurin, it's clear to me that he's struggling to maintain his composed mask. His lips are pressed together firmly, his eyes flickering as he watches the pale Demon Lord.
A few moments of tense silence pass over the group, but eventually Zurin speaks. "It is safe to assume you know the truth, then; that your creation happened because of my foolish research and the sacrifice I was later forced to make. You know that I was forced to create you after Demise threatened to wipe out my family and influence in demon society..."
My stomach drops like a stone.
No. No.
Ghirahim smiles, sadistically enjoying Zurin's pain. "Ah, but that isn't all there is to the story, correct?" he replies with a smirk. "You gave up a part of your very soul to give me life, didn't you? As some foolish way to cast off your demonic attributes forever, I suppose. But when Demise found out, he killed your family and threw you out like the broken garbage you are!" With that revelation, Ghirahim throws his head back and let out a chilling cackle.
But the laughter doesn't last long. Before I realise what's happening, an intense jet of fire leaps from Zurin's fingertips. Ghirahim is all but consumed by the flames that leave singe marks on the ornate marble floor. "You foolish child..." Zurin snaps back at Ghirahim, "I will purge your wretched existence with my flames!" I've never seen Zurin like this, so intensely angry. Veins throb on his exposed neck, and spittle flies from his lips as his talks. The flames continues to spark for a good few seconds, long enough for me to wonder if there will even be a scorched cinder of Ghirahim left. But eventually, they fade away and Zurin's arms return to his side, though his eyes still burn with the same relentless anger.
And yet, despite what I thought, Ghirahim's form still remains, crouched on the ground like a praying child. His back is turned to us, head bowed below his hunched shoulders. Silence descends over the room, and for a moment it seems like Ghirahim is defeated. But as a low growls rips from his throat, I realise how mistaken I was. He rises from his crouched position, his growl growing ever louder as he stands. And then, with a loud grunt of annoyance, he turns to us all.
The sight is enough to send a chill down my spine.
His features are twisted into an agonized expression, anger seeping through every pore of his skin. His arms, that were once pale flesh, are now black as soot, hard as metal. The same hardened skin shows through the diamond windows in his trousers, spiking and rising like a vein of black iron embedded in rock. The black cracks run all up the left hand side of his chest and neck, circling his left eye and tracing just over the bridge of his nose.
"I will NOT be treated this way by such an inferior!"Ghirahim shouts, facing Zurin head on, charging directly at him. But his metal fists are too slow for Zurin's teleportation abilities. Ghirahim turns to face Zurin as he reappears. With a flick of his wrist, he sends out a collection of black metal daggers to skewer his opponent. But Zurin is quick to react with ball of fire that singes the weapons. However, he's not quick enough to avoid the solid punch Ghirahim delivers right into his chest.
Zurin is sent flying across the room, discarded like a broken toy. His body slams heavily into the wall, before he lands in a crumpled heap on the ground. He doesn't move. Zurin's out, cold. I stare at him in silence for a few moments, willing him to get back up again, but he doesn't - he just lies still. From beside me I hear a soft throaty chuckle, Ghirahim sounds particularly pleased with himself. We all watch as he strides slowly towards Zurin's almost lifeless body, taking a few training swipes in the air as he approaches. I feel almost paralyzed, too afraid to move. But thank Hylia that someone isn't as cowardly as I am...
An angry growl rips from Link's throat as he races forward, sword raised high above his head as he dives towards Ghirahim. Just seconds before his powerful blade bites into Ghirahim's flesh, the Demon Lord vanishes and reappears a good distance away from Link, smirking proudly.
"Why do you fight to protect him?" Ghirahim spits. "He's one of us, a Demon, the kind you're trying to destroy. You really think he'll remain loyal to you? He'll betray you as easily as he did my master!"
"No he won't," Leala says firmly.
"Ah, stupid sky child," Ghirahim chuckles. "Now, where was I? Ah, yes, of course. But first of all, this," he says as he waves with his hand, creating a wall of some sort of diamonds that drive us back. It has closed us all out, except for Link.
"Link!" I yell. "No!"
"Looks like you got yourself an adorable fan, Link!" Ghirahim mocks.
I look down, ashamed.
"Let's wrap this up, shall we?" Ghirahim says. "What I wanted to stay, was this: look at this drawings! Until I found these, I was... upset about that little stunt the goddess's guard dog pulled at the Gate of Time. What was that twig's name again? Impa? Well, never mind that, because these drawings suggest the existence of a second Gate of Time. This news has just filled my heart with rainbows!"
"What kind of Demon Lord says that?" Leala scoffs.
"How's Zurin?" Fledge whispers.
"I don't know..." Callia replies.
Ghirahim teleports up where the drawings are. "I had searched everywhere, and the thought of never getting my hands on that darling young girl again was... well, more than I could bear." He jumps down and stands behind Link, putting his hands on Link's shoulder. He is so creepy...
"But then... Then I found this place! The prospect of a second Gate of Time has made me positively giggly!"
Link slashes at him with his sword, but Ghirahim disappears again and appears back in front of Link.
"That girl... Your adorable friend... She will be instrumental in bringing about the revival of my master. And though I feared she was now quite beyond my reach, I despair no longer! But before we talk any further on that subject, there's still the outstanding matter of your punishment, Link. Do you remember when I told you that the next time we met, I'd make your ears bleed from the sound of your own screams?"
A chill goes down my spine. This guy is sick!
"Well, I've been thinking... Perhaps corporal punishment is a touch harsh. I might be willing to forgive and forget if you'll strike a deal. All I ask is that you tell me where I can find the other Gate of Time, and don't try to lie, I know you know, so why don't you let me in on the fun?" Ghirahim continues.
Link narrows his bright blue eyes, raising his sword. "I don't deal with the devil," he says firmly.
"Such behaviour. A mischievous boy like you needs to be dealt with firmly. I must warn you, I won't go easy on you this time. And it makes it even more fun that your little friends can watch too!" Ghirahim laughs. "Come to me, Link. You and I, we're bound by that thread of fate. Destined to fight. So come close, Link! Meet me in battle, and the thread of fate that binds us will be soaked crimson with your blood!"
"No," I let out a soft cry.
And with that, the battle begins. We all watch, wishing that we could help too. But we can't because we're stuck behind the diamond wall. I'm just praying to the goddess in the hope she'll aid him.
Pipit bangs one clenched fist against the barrier, letting out and cry of anguish. He then resorts to whipping out his sword and hacking away at the diamonds. Every time his swords hits it clangs like metal on metal, but it doesn't even scratch the protective wall.
Ghirahim growls in frustration as he slashes his sword out at Link, who nimbly dodges. "Tell your little friend to behave himself, won't you?"
"YOU'RE A COWARD!" Leala shouts, but Ghirahim merely smirks in reaction as he raises his sword to block Link's attack. It seems almost like an even match...
Ghirahim sends five daggers whizzing through the air, but Link deflects them so they fly back towards the Demon Lord who growls as one grazes across his arm. "ENOUGH GAMES!" he bellows as he summons yet another onyx sword almost from thin air. His eyes gleam with a stomach churning malice as he and Link continue to thoughtlessly battle. I glance back over to where Zurin is still lying, helpless on the floor, cut off from the rest of us by his own wall of diamonds. I then turn my attention back to the battle at hand.
"Link!" Callia shouts. "He's only got two swords, he can't block from every angle!"
"Well aren't you clever," Ghirahim hisses, shooting Callia a poisonous glare.
Link doesn't have the time to act before Ghirahim makes another charge, but it's clear he took on board what Callia said because he changes his tactics. He lures Ghirahim into blocking either side, then makes a quick slash from above or below. Ghirahim is slow to catch onto Link's new method, but it's clear his power is beginning to diminish. Link makes another powerful strike from above, and one of Ghirahim's swords shatters into little black diamonds.
"...Enough of this foolishness..." he growls. "I am Ghirahim, Demon Lord! It shouldn't matter how powerful your sword is, you are still nothing... Not just a human... A human child! And yet you prevail! You filthy scamp! You have awakened a wrath that will burn for eons! I swear to you, whatever it takes, I will drag you into an eternity of torment! You and your pathetic excuse for a Demon friend." He turns his sword around, and disappears, the diamond barriers vanishing with him.
The room lightens up, and I run to Link together with Pipit.
"Are you ok?!" Pipit says, worried.
He turns to us. His eyes are full of rage, fury, anger... I have never seen him like this before. "Yes. I am."
"Good. That's good," I whisper.
"What now?" Callia yells.
"I have to get the flame behind that door. Wait here for me," he says firmly. We watch him run towards the door, which lights up, and he enters, closing it behind him.
"Well that was... Intense..." Karane says.
"How's Zurin now?" Fledge asks Leala, who is sitting next Zurin.
"He's breathing..." Leala says.
I slowly make my way over, wary as to what I might find. Zurin is still slumped against the wall, limbs lying limp on the floor beside him. Bruising runs up the side of his face from where Ghirahim slammed him into the wall, and he still appears to be unconscious. Pipit kneels down in front of him and pulls Zurin up in to a sitting position resting against the wall. His head lolls dangerously and his hood, which is usually pulled up, has now fallen back around his shoulders.
I honestly don't know how I'm supposed to feel or what I'm supposed to think right now. I didn't trust Zurin when I first met him, together with Callia, and I was sure he was going to betray us to the Demon King or try to harm us. But over time, I've grown to trust him a little more. Especially after he helped Callia with her broken leg and saved us from Faron the Water Dragon.
But now I've learnt what he's been hiding from us all this time... I'm utterly confused. He was the creator of Ghirahim, the man who's been perusing my friends from the very beginning. I knew he'd worked for the Demon King because he called him his old master, but I never thought he'd have done something like that. The very thought that he had the power and the heart to do something like that... it horrifies me.
I see Callia, staring, her eyes dull.
"Are you alright?" I ask Callia, my voice a bit shaky.
She keeps staring in front of her.
"Callia?" I say, laying my hand on her shoulder.
My touch seems to have brought her back to reality. "What? Sorry... I was err... thinking," she says, giving me a weak smile.
I sigh as I slide down the wall, sitting down.. "I think I know what you're thinking about. I mean... I can't believe he... did that... And he never told us! I just don't know what to think now," I admit.
She sits down next to me. "Me neither," she sighs.
Suddenly the door in the back opens and Link comes out. He walks up to us and sits down. "How's Zurin?" he asks.
"Alive," Karane sighs, who comes sitting with us.
"So?" Callia says to Link.
"So what?" Link replies.
"What happened in that room? With the flame?" she asks.
"Oh. Well, my sword has revealed its true form now, and apparently, it's now supposed to be called the Master Sword. Which means that I can now open the Gate of Time... And... see Zelda," he says, smiling a bit.
"That's all very touching, but we need to do something about Zurin!" Pipit cuts in. "Has anyone got a healing potion?"
"I think so..." I say, fumbling through my pouch and producing a small glass bottle filled with a red potion. I hand it to Pipit who carefully uncorks the bottle and pours the contents between Zurin's lips.
"It's clear you need to go after Zelda, Link," Leala says. "But Zurin's not going to be able to go anywhere for a while..."
"We're not leaving him here," Pipit insists. "He's done so much for us, I won't leave him behind."
Callia frowns. "He created Ghirahim."
Pipit lets out a sharp sigh. "We need to hear him out."
A wet choke escapes from Callia's throat as she stumbles to her feet, looking at Pipit on his own eye level. "There's nothing to be said, Pipit! You can't honestly tell me that you still want him around after everything we just learnt?"
"He saved your life!" Pipit snaps at her. She blinks a few times, startled. "We're taking him back to Skyloft with us," he says determinedly.
"We're not," Callia retaliates. Her whole body is shaking how, tears pooling in her dark eyes. "We can't bring a Demon into Skyloft, especially not him. He lied to us, he's been deceiving us from the day we met. Ghirahim may be a sick and twisted individual, but at least he's honest. I told you right from the beginning not to trust Zurin. And I was right... he created Ghirahim."
"GIVE HIM A CHANCE TO EXPLAIN!" Pipit yells
She sobs. "There's nothing to be explained. I can't trust him knowing he had the power to create such a horrific creature... I'm terrified, Pipit."
Callia can be faulted for many things. She's irritatingly smart, always insistent that she knows best, infuriatingly snobby and incredibly nosy. But she's been my best friend since birth, and if there's one thing I know, it's that she's a wonderful friend. She wouldn't be turning against Zurin unless she felt she had no other choice.
"Pipit..." Karane breathes, resting her hands on his shoulders. "I know that Zurin needs our help... but we can't smuggle a Demon into Skyloft."
"We'll just keep him at the lumpy pumpkin! Look... he saved us from the water dragon. Without him, we'd never have been able to defeat the thousand year arachnid. Don't you think it's about time we returned the favor!"
Soft, reluctant nodding spreads through the group, though Callia is still trembling in her boots. I gently take her arm, trying to reassure her.
"Ok..." Leala says. "Action plan: Link, you take your new sword and go find Zelda. Do whatever it is that you need to do to make sure she's safe..." Leala then rummages through her pocket, producing a gossip stone which she then presses into Link's palm. "Take this. When you've found Zelda and know what to do next, talk into it and we'll hear you, Zurin's got the other one in the pair. Meanwhile, we'll take Zurin back to Skyloft and try to help him recover. We'll also do some research, find out what we can about The Demon King and Ghirahim. There's got to be something that can help us... ok?"
"Ok," Link says, nodding with determination.
So, in silence, Pipit and Fledge stoop down and carefully pick up Zurin. I silence, they carry him towards, the exit to the temple with everyone else following behind, me trying my best to comfort Callia all the while.
So let me ask you guys this... who saw that coming? ;)