Chap. 20 - Trials and enlightening conjectures
The group of Hellsing and Iscariot agents, as well as Anju, Kafei and Zelda marched into the ruin capital of Hyrule. They entered the market place to be greeted by Redeads: the reanimated flesh–hungry corpses whom the Hellsing agents first discovered then they first arrived. They were soon overcome when Zelda took out the Ocarina of Time and began to play the suns song. The Redeads soon stood solid and frozen, allowing the group to hurry by with no trouble at all. They climbed up the hill to find that the sky was getting darker and darker, as they began to notice a black tall shadow standing tall amongst the black storm clouds. They soon arrived.
"Ladies and Gentlemen…" Zelda began. "I present to all of you… Ganon's Tower."
They looked up in awe, as Ganon's Tower stood high within its dark and evil glory before them. Well it certainly did look like a rather comfortable place for someone with a dark heart to call home… even Alucard would call this place a piece of architectural art… Kafei as well. Knowing that Link was in there… perhaps watching them made them feel rather intimidated. Still, they have been charged to rid Hyrule of the evil plaguing it… and Link was the last line of defence standing in-between them and their goal of achieving prosperity to Hyrule. They noticed the lake of lava below that the tower was floating above. That looked like a rather far jump from where they were to the entrance of the tower on the other side. If they risked taking the leap… they were sure to fall to their deaths.
Soon a rainbow of lights began to rain down upon them. Zelda began to explain… it was the other sages using their combined powers to build a bridge so they could access the tower. They did the very some thing for Link when he was completing this quest… the same quest they'd been completing due to the events of the past being turned back, because of Link and his present broken heart and hatred for Hyrule. Soon enough a glowing bridge connected the entrance to the tower. They could now go in.
"Soon this unholy alliance will end," Anderson began. He then turned to Alucard with a psychotic smile. "I can't wait… I can't wait to go back decapitating you again, you foul beast." Alucard just laughed… he couldn't wait either. "And after I finally send you to hell… I'll take your new violet haired monster friend with you."
"Alucard, who is this fool?" Kafei asked.
"A priest."
"… I hate priests…"
"Let's just go in, shall we?" Integra said. "We can leave all this prattle for later. Time is of the essence."
They entered. Alucard, Integra, Kafei and Anju noticed that some of the décor along the black stonewalls were simular to that of the wall décor in the Spirit Temple. Well… the great King of Evil who first owned this place was first just the King of the Gerudo's… the desert race that worship the Sand Goddess and the desert spirits within the Spirit Temple. Link hadn't changed it for his comforts… it perhaps doesn't bother him, for it will be destroyed within chaos anyway. They descended towards a door, slaughtering monsters that dared to block their way. They left a trial of blood and ripped flesh behind them, as they walked through the door.
There they stared at the entrance to the main tower, which was covered within a force field, which spiralled a white aura around it. Integra looked around to notice a series of doors surrounding it, each with a sage medallion symbol above the door. The sources of the force field must be hidden within them. She turned to the group… if they all split up into groups of two and three, this source eradication assignment should be done in no time at all.
"Hey Seras… I've been meaning to ask you…" Rip began. "Why are you wearing that red tunic?"
"Oh…" Seras looked down at her outfit… an outfit that made her look so much like Link. If she had the Master Sword equipped and not her Harkonnen cannon, she would be a dead ringer. "Her highness said that there is a room here that's too hot to for any being to enter… it's like the Fire Temple, so I thought I'd take care of that room, since I still had my Goron Tunic… it fits well too… quite comfy…"
"And I must say Police Girl, it fits you like a glove," Alucard said with a smirk. "Tell me… has the French Pig seen you within it yet?"
"Will be alright on your own, Seras?" Integra then asked.
"I'll be fine… that and I don't really have a choice… no one else is wearing a Goron Tunic but me…"
"We'll split up and head to a room. Two's and three's, hurry… let's not waste anymore time than we already have."
With that they all went into teams of two and three and went into a room. Heinkel, Yumie and Rip entered the Forest Room. There, they were greeted by a few Keese's… creature that looked a lot like bats. The girls easily shot and slaughtered them to smithereens. They noticed the locked door on the other side. They had no key, so how do they get that door open? Heinkel then took out the magical stone Din's Fire, the stone Integra once used in the Spirit Temple. This stone had the power to unleash a wave of fire burning everything in it's path, as well as light up certain objects. One summon, and all the torches were alight, even the one high atop the chained door was burning. Soon a small chest appeared before them. Rip opened it to receive the key.
They continued on, while Seras seemed to be stuck in puzzlement in the Fire Room. She had retrieved all the silver rupees – which she correctly assumed would unbar the door on the other side – however the door won't open. She risked being burned to a crisp for this? She stood before a large black pillar with the Gerudo emblem inscribed on it… it was huge and looked rather heavy… perhaps the rupee was under that? Even with her vampiric strength, there was no way she could lift that thing! With that she armed her Harkonnen cannon with a shell and aimed it at the pillar. She fired the shell, which exploded in contact with the pillar… that was now just a pile of dust and rocks. She noticed the silver rupee… now she could finally move on and get out of this dreadful sauna for a room. Perhaps she better blast the source with another shell as well?
The air was cold and dense, as Walter, Alhambra, and Jon continued to toil about a room of ice. It was so cold… their bodies would soon freeze! They had to figure out how to complete this room now before it was too late! What was with these two huge ice blocks and the hole – which was big enough the fit one of these blocks in? This was just ridiculous! Jon then noticed something twinkling from above. It was a silver rupee trapped within red ice, which seemed to be steaming… like it was hot or something. Hot ice… well that was something they've never seen before. With that Jon began to shot the ice with his favoured Falkens Son guns cracking the ice, then Alhambra finished the job as the threw one of his magic cards, exploding the ice onto small shards that rained upon them. Walter then colleted the rupee, casting one of his silver wires to retrieve it.
"Well done gentlemen," Walter said. "Jolly good team work. Now let's get out of here before we freeze."
"Amen, old bro," Jon said. "Like seriously man… what the fuck is up with this room shit?" He continued to rant as the unbarred door open. "Talk about going way too overboard with the security pyrotechnics… is Link fuckin' paranoid or somethin'… I mean, what the fuck?"
"Does that answer your question?" Alhambra asked, as they all looked up and awed at the source floating above them… its array of blue and black glow bathing their faces with a dark blue tone. That black sphere floating within a blue aura must be a partial of the source that they were looking for… one of the six sources that were scattered throughout the tower. "So… what do we do?"
"I believe this is where this comes in…" Walter pulled out a Light Arrow from his blue vest, it's glow mesmerising to the two vampires… what an astounding piece of weaponry… "Her highness has given a group each a Light Arrow, for only its light glow of righteousness and justice, will be able to take out power as dark and evil as this. Well… here I go…"
Like a harpoon, Walter threw the Light Arrow, aiming for the centre of the black haunting sphere. His aim was a little off centre, however he was able to hit the ball of dark magic. The overwhelming light from the Light Arrow began to burn the black orb disintegrating it to nothing. With a small explosion the source was destroyed, raining down an array of black and blue lights upon them… like a blessing congratulating them on their efforts. Well, with the source destroyed, it was time to head back out and meet up with the others.
Kafei and Anju where ordained the task of venturing through the Shadow Room to reach the source at the other end. On the way, they picked up a pair of Golden Gauntlets, which Kafei received when the stepped on one of the many switches in the room. The room seemed to be floating, as a lake of shades of purple, blue and white acid continued to churn under them and the walls as black as Kafei's shadows. They soon reached the door… however it was still barred. They must not have found the switch to unlock it yet… and Kafei was growing mighty impatient. Whose idea was it to create such labret security anyway… it was as if Link was testing them one more time. To hell with this! With that he picked up Anju and held him within his arms. They then fazed through the wall to finally come face to face with the source… this source encased within a purple aura.
"Well that seemed to be quite the wasted effort…" Anju said.
"I just want to end this quickly," Kafei replied. "So I can rip Link's head off as soon as possible. I don't want to waste time toiling about with switches!"
"Weren't you revived here… you serve Link originally, do you not? Don't you have access to the tower because of that?"
"I was never under the service of Link… he just woke me up and said for me to do as I please… since he knew what kind of bloodlust and chaotic hobbies I take pleasure in. Besides, if he is making me perform the hard yards with all of you, then he must already know of the three hundred and sixty degree turn I have taken… either that or he assumes I am dead by now… Alucard as well. He was the main reason Link revived me… to destroy Alucard."
"I see… well… let's finally destroy this and meet up with the others." Anju then took out the Light Arrow, as well as a bow. She armed the bow with the Light arrow and took aim… her stance looked rather professional. She then fired the arrow destroying the curse. Kafei could only looked on with awe at Anju, as the remains of the purple aura and the black magic rained upon them.
"You never told me, that you were an archer…"
Anju smiled. "You never asked. I have practiced arching since I was a child. Father taught me. He passed on and I continued with my training… however I never have as much time to practice now, since I now take care of grandmother's cukoos. Anyway, let's get out of here."
After a series of trials, Integra and Alucard soon arrived at the source of the Spirit Room. Integra pulled out the Light Arrow from her long white coat and gave it to Alucard, who received it by taking a hold of it with one of his black shadow tentacles. His black shadow tentacles were more accurate than her human eyes… and possessed a more powerful throw than her as well. With that Alucard extended his shadow that held the Light Arrow and stretched it towards the source with great speed. They watched as the source exploded when the arrow came into contact, the mixed specs of orange and black magic falling around them like snow.
"Well, that wasn't so hard," Integra, said. "We went through much greater danger in the Spirit Temple." She smirked. "You think Link would give us a challenge here, since we are on the march after him after all…"
"And with the others taking care of the other rooms, the security system will shut down at a much faster rate than Link was ever to accomplish," Alucard replied. "We are repeating his steps when he was the Hero of Time after all. After doing so… it has finally convinced me of the man he truly is… to have toiled and endured so much pain and hardship… he destroyed all the temples on his own, and then defeated this 'King of Evil' on his own. Even if it is cowardly… I understand why he is so angry with the people, of how they ignore his efforts and do not acknowledge what he has sacrificed for his country. Her highness should have never turned back the clock after Ganondorf was defeated. Even if she did feel responsible for taking away Link's childhood… all of the horror and hardship he saw when he was child - when looking for those Spiritual Stones - should have been more than enough to have already taken his childhood innocence away. He was man before he became a man… and no one, not even time can change that."
"You're right, Alucard," Integra replied. "If Zelda never turned back time after Ganondorf's defeat, then all this mess never would have happened. They would have felt freer to express their emotions… and the myth of the Hero of Time would be more than just a myth. She thought that she was doing Link a favour, by turning back time so he could regain the childhood years he lost while he slept for seven years… however it is like you said Alucard… he already grew up when he accepted his destiny. He became a man the first the stepped out of the forest. Perhaps this is what Link wants us to see…"
"Whatever he has created all this chaos for, it just proves of the turn he has made from a man, to a arrogant child. All of this is just a whinge… perhaps his way of blaming the world for taking his childhood away…"
"Among other things… well, we better get out of here." With that they exited the room.
Zelda and Anderson continued to remain puzzled, as they stared up at a black pillar before them. They had searched everywhere for the Light Room, however they turned up empty every time thought they came close. It had now led them to the assumption that the door to the Light Room was behind this pillar. Anderson tried with his own strength to pull it out from the ground, however it was just too heavy. He even tried slicing the stone with his blessed blades, however it just chipped them rendering them useless. Soon the others approached. They noticed that the force field was still up and running… Zelda and Anderson haven't completed their room yet.
"What seems to be the problem, Judas priest?" Alucard asked, with a glint of a teasing tone. "Having trouble getting in? Pathetic human."
"Shut your hole, you unholy beast!" Anderson replied. "I'd like to see you try and get rid of this thing."
"This type of rock can only be moved with a certain piece of equipment," Zelda replied. "However we do not possess the Golden Gauntlets to remove it."
"You mean these?" Kafei held up the Golden Gauntlets he found in the Shadow room. "We found them in the Shadow Room… how connivent for Link to leave something so powerful lying around to make our job easier. Here, priest… take them." Anderson just kept staring at the gauntlets with a look of disgust. It was like Kafei was holding a disease or something. "What seems to be the matter priest? This is the item you need, is it not?"
"Like I would accept help from a filthy heathen monster like you!" Anderson then said. Kafei just scowled as he threw the gold plated gloves at him. "How dare you, you foul beast!"
"Save your prejudice for later priest… or have you forgotten of the important job we are doing here?" Kafei had a point. "While we are allied, we must work together… no matter who or what we are. But believe me Father, when this alliance is ceased, I'll see to it that Alucard leaves a piece of you for me to slaughter when he is done with you. I will rip you to shreds for your comments… you pathetic human."
Anderson just smiled. "I like to see you try, you demon!"
"Alright, that's enough!" Integra then said breaking up the tiff. "We need to finish this now!"
"Alright, alright." Anderson put on the gloves, as he did so he felt a large deluge of power flowing through his arms. "Alright… let's remove this God forsaken rock!"
Anderson placed his hands under the black pillar… then with a mighty roar he slowly ripped the pillar out from the ground. Everyone looked on in awe as Anderson held the enormous piece of rock within his hand, as Anderson sung it to and fro trying to keep it balanced. He then hurled it over his shoulder. They all watched as the pillar shattered into dust and gravel that rained on to the floor. With that Anderson and Zelda entered the Light Room, leaving the other in an awestruck state.
"That was fuckin' awesome!" Jon the said. "Like He-Man and shit! Luke… I know what I want for Christmas…"
"This place is certainly full of surprises…" Heinkel added.
"Well, it won't be long before the barrier over the main tower is broken, so how about we begin planning our next move?" Walter suggested.
"Judging by what we have already faced here, I would assume that he will have a couple of more trials awaiting us along the tower," Alucard added.
"You serious…" Jon wondered.
"It's just a safety precaution, but I'd say he most certainly will."
"Well, we'll all be working as one when we go up the tower… so it shouldn't be a problem," Seras said.
"Yes…" Integra replied. "When Anderson and her highness are done, it will be time to wage our war."
With the tone of Zelda's Lullaby emitted from the Ocarina of Time, princess Zelda had the second door open to reveal a small arena where three boulders ran supreme, as they raced around the room protecting four silver rupees. They entered the room and the door closed on them. They soon felt the air becoming thin… oxygen was limited. They couldn't stay here for long… perhaps for about a minute or less. Sparing no time, they began to evade the boulders to retrieve the silver rupees, which they hoped would open the door on the other side.
Zelda, with her Sheikah agility jumped over the boulder and landed on top of a ledge to collect the silver rupee from its perch. Anderson evaded the boulders, just scraping by inches, as he ran to collect the two rupees sitting in holes around the walls of the arena. Zelda soon collected the last rupee, which hid itself with a crease at the bottom of the ledge. They then ran to the newly unbarred door on the other side to come face to face with the source… but hang on… it wasn't there! This is where the source should stand right, on the alter like a king on his throne… what in the world was going on?
"Wait…" Zelda then said. "I hear sounds coming from the other side of the back wall." She stepped up on to the alter and approached the back wall. She slowly moved her hand towards it, which fazed through the wall as she tried to touch it. "It's and invisible wall. The source must be on the other side." With that, she and Anderson raced through the wall and down a tunnel way, to finally come face-to-face with the source on the other side.
"Finally," Anderson said with a sigh. "Your highness… you're the archer here… you may do the honours of sending this thing to hell from where it was spawned."
Zelda took off the Fairy Bow, which was slung over her shoulder and took out a Light Arrow. She took aim at the source and fired. As the arrow of light pierced through the darkness, it was consumed by the arrow's righteous light, which made Zelda and Anderson shield their eyes from the overwhelming glow. They heard something explode and unshielded their eyes to see the altar raining with specs of black and gold… it was magic. The final source has been destroyed.
Outside, the others watched on with awe as the white light, which spiralled around the main tower, go into to frantic frenzy. Zelda and Anderson must have finally destroyed the source, and so the magic that was protecting the main tower had now become unstable, now that the sources that kept it stable were now completely reradiated. After spiralling out of control for some time the light exploded. The others had to shield their eyes, for the light was hard for their sights to handle. The light soon died down, and when they opened their eyes, they saw the light that once surrounded the main tower was gone… the main tower was now open for them to access.
Within the moment, Zelda jumped up at Anderson and hugged him at a job well done. With that final source out of they way, they can finally confront Link and try to save him from his madness. As Anderson held her within his arms, hearing her laugh for the first time it made his heart sing… like a father enjoying an embrace with his daughter. Even within the Water Temple he felt this way about her… that he needed to protect her no matter what. He had never felt like this when showing fatherly love to the children back at the orphanage… it was like Zelda was his flesh and blood.
Zelda soon calmed down and released herself from Anderson. It was time to be on their way. However… before Anderson and Zelda could make their way back to the door, Zelda was suddenly trapped within a glowing pink crystal-like prison. She was trapped! That thing just came out of nowhere! It must have been Link… he was now making his move. Anderson frantically tried to save the princess from her case as he threw a handful of powerful blessed blade at it… but they did even leave a scratch.
"My, my princess…" Link began, his voice echoing around the walls of the room. "You have certainly involved yourself a lot more this time. Unlike last time, where you left me alone do toil most of the horror and bloodshed alone! You dwelled through a temple, lent a helping hand to your people… and you even destroyed a source. Tell me… are you feeling tired now, princess?"
"You bastard!" Anderson bellowed. "Let her go, you heretic dog!"
"Now why should I do that? I am simply doing her a favour. She may come straight up here with me, without having to toil about with the danger that awaits the rest of you, as you fools try desperately to climb the main tower. You may have broken the barrier, however you have not arrived in hell yet! Zelda and I will wait for your arrival. Hurry… for her life is on the line as well. Whether you dogs succeed or fail will decide her fate!" With an echoing laugh from Link, Zelda slowly disappeared. Soon she was gone without a trace… her begging cry for help the last thing Anderson saw of her. That haunting image stuck within his mind… making his already boiling blood boil even hotter.
"I'll see to that you burn in hell for this, you cowardly dog! You don't deserve her!"
Anderson broke the news to the others when he finally exited the room. Link had taken Zelda hostage. Knowing of the situation, they knew that Link wouldn't do anything to her, for she was too valuable to him… however he had taken one of their own, thus challenging them to take him on. Link was declaring war. With her icy blue eyes raging with vengeance, Integra turned back to glare at the main tower with hatred burning within her heart. She and the others did not fear of what lied behind that door… of the horrible creatures and monsters that lurk within waiting for them to come for the slaughter.
"We are coming for you Link," an enraged Integra began. "Well will search and destroy! Any resistance we encounter will be crushed! Hellsing, nor the Iscariot's run from our enemies… we will kill them all! We will leave nothing but bloody stains within our wake!"
Alucard smiled. "I love it when you are filled with bloodlust… my darling Integra," he said. "Can you feel your blood rush… the warmth of hell's fire as you thirst for the slaughter? Tell me once more my darling Integra… your order…"
"SEARCH AND DESTROY!!!"