Chapter 20: Linebeck, Guardian of Oceans
Author's note: This next boss battle is a modified version of the final boss of Phantom Hourglass, in case you didn't know. Also, Phantom Hourglass is a DS game; look for my little tribute to the fact that the DS has two screens (something that is used greatly in both that final battle and the Spirit Tracks final battle).
Now that it's chapter 20 (I mean, there was a prologue, but even so. Also, we may or may not be halfway through at this point; I know that there will be at least fifteen, more likely more, chapters), I think that it's time to give shoutouts all around.
Thank you so much to my most loyal reviewers, Base Guardian (once 'A fan'), Silverwing365, and Rider of the Whales. Thank you also to Hazelholly for your review. Thanks also to Jesse for your very critical and very detailed review. Finally, thank you to UltraViolet for my first review on any of my stories.
Also, thank you to all of those who added this story to favorites: CrimsonLaurana, Rider of the Whales (again), RykiRikyr, Base Guardian (again), Silverwing365 (again), and Angelboy1989. Now for my final thank you, to those who subscribed to my story: Kyogreperson, abandonthemyriad, CrimsonLaurana, RedSkyTiger, Rider of the Whales (yet again), RykiRikyr (again), Silverwing365 (yet again), Base Guardian (yet again), and Hazelholly (again). I'm so glad that you enjoy this story!
Now, a final thank you all around, and let the fun begin!
"Link…"
Red and Medli gasped as they heard a voice calling Red's proper name. Who was it? And why was the voice coming out of the helmet of the massive creature? Did it know him or something? Or was he a veiled creation?
Instantly, Red was reminded of Vio. Was another poor soul suffering the same way? If they were, Red would have to help.
Just then, the figure charged at Red and Medli, sword held aloft. Medli shoved Red one way and leapt the other with a scream, hoping to distract this massive creature. However, it paid almost no attention to Medli and whirled to face Red.
There the three were; the massive creature in the middle of an undrawn circle, Red on one side, Medli exactly on the other. The difference in what they were seeing was so stark that if they could put it together and see both sides at once, they would be stunned. Red was of course seeing the Phantom side, the thick, brown armor and the helmet with the seemingly tortured face. Meanwhile, Medli saw the most horrible creature on it's back. It had a bright yellow, bloated-looking body with an angry-looking purple eye in the center. The eye stared at her hungrily, scaring the wits out of her and fascinating her at the same time. It had purple tentacles, all with their own eyes. The odd thing was that all six of the tentacles were pointed at…
At her.
"Red!" she shouted. "It looks so weird back here!"
"Really?" he replied. "I can't really pay attention to that right now. Sorry!"
He ran forward with a yell, intending to hit the creature's breast plate and do some damage to it. However, it's reaction was far from promising. The creature acted as though nothing had happened, as though he hadn't just been hit by the four sword, one of the strongest swords in Hyrule, as Red would learn later. Now, however, it could've been a toothpick for all the thing reacted.
Instead, Red shot his ice wand at the creature, hoping to get a better response. However, the creature ducked aside. Red realized to his horror that the ice ball that he'd intended for the creature was now going to hit Medli.
"Medli! Duck!" he screamed. However, Medli was still watching the creature's back, which Red still couldn't see. He shouted at her again, but by the time she realized that the ice ball was going to hit her, she whipped out her lyre, all the while still facing the creature. Red closed his eyes, not wanting to see Medli freeze right before his eyes.
"Red!" Medli's voice screamed. Red opened his eyes to see that not Medli, but the creature was frozen.
"What happened?" he asked, running over to her.
"I reflected the ball from you to him using my lyre," she replied.
"But how-what-why?" Red sputtered.
"I don't know, but you better go now before the ice melts!"
Red trotted over to the creature, where he pulled out his sword and walloped the open eye on its back. He had no way of knowing if it were working or not, but he took a try at it anyway. Medli shouted encouragement at him, though she didn't get close. She knew that she'd probably just get in the way. After all, she wasn't the best fighter in the world.
Suddenly, the ice around the creature shattered and it skidded away from Red, ready for more. However, Red was smarter this time. He didn't even bother trying to strike, instead waiting for Medli's go-ahead signal. She was standing right behind the creature, and had a perfect view of the thing at the back. Unfortunately, it had several eyes trained on her. And it knew very well that she was the one who'd hit it earlier.
Without warning, two tentacles reached out and snatched Medli. She fought them, beating her wings and smacking at the tentacles, but all that happened was that two more tentacles grasped her. She fought harder, even lifting off the ground and hitting them with her lyre, but it was no use.
"Put her down!" screamed Red. "Please!"
For the first time (and unfortunately not the last), Red heard the creature's voice in reply.
"No," the creature stated in that that terrible voice. Somehow, Red knew that it was that creepy thing with the tentacles talking. "I need her."
"What'll you do her?"
"Turn her into one such as Shadow Link!"
Medli cast Red a desperate glance. With a scream, Red ran forward and began hacking at the breast plate of the creature, but to no avail. He didn't want to lose Medli, though, so kept trying.
"Give me one good reason that I don't do it to her," the thing that had Medli was talking to Red now.
"I love her!"
The words were out of Red's mouth before he realized what he just said. He really loved her? They'd only known another for a matter of hours (not counting the song of passing). Medli's eyes widened in shock.
"We've only must known each other for-"
"Medli, love doesn't have a time limit."
"Oh, Red. Not meaning to be sappy or anything, but I-"
The tentacles wrapped around her mouth before she could say anything. Red launched himself at the creature with a roar again, but was knocked backwards. He went skidding across the ground, feeling a little stunned, disoriented, hurt, and heartbroken that he'd failed rescuing the girl he'd just admitted his feelings to. He'd lost and he knew it. His Medli would meet a fate akin to that of Shadow Link.
Suddenly, however, like a ray of sunshine peeking out from behind clouds after rain, a thin beam of energy appeared, concentrated at the creature's eye. Red and Medli watched in equal surprise as the large creature, with a wail, seemed to split in two. On one half, the humanoid half, it collapsed. The armor began to separate. If Red would've watched, he would've gone over to the figure that was now lying on the ground as though unconscious among the armor. However, he was too busy watching the other half, the squid-like half, fly into the air suddenly, as though flung.
"I've still got the girl!" the squid laughed as Medli struggled once again. However, his elation was put to a stop when a second beam of the energy hit him in the eye once more. This beam seemed to be slightly stronger than the last, though less concentrated.
The squid dropped Medli, who began to plummet towards the deck of the ship. However, just before she did so, a figure materialized right below her, holding out his arms to catch her. As a result, she had a very soft landing. Not that she cared. As soon as the figure gently pulled her upright once more, she ran over to Red and pulled her arms around him. He returned the gesture very gingerly, wary of her wings.
"Red, what I wanted to say earlier was that I-I love you, too!" Medli gasped and buried her face in his chest.
"Oh, Medli! I'm so glad!" Red cried and tightened the embrace slightly. The two then looked for one another, contented in one another's presence, for a moment, though it felt like several days. Such was the miracle of the first love (Link and Zelda didn't count because Zelda was currently unaware that Link even existed) in five thousand years. Secretly, Din, Farore, and Nayru rejoiced. As a matter of fact, that was one of the reasons that they'd had the wind awaken Medli anyway. She'd be a perfect match for Red, while being a valuable asset to heroes as well, it was true.
But for Red and Medli, the fact that the five thousand year freeze was even in effect, the fact that Hyrule was now under an influence far darker than anything ever before that had happened, the fact that their lives were now in constant danger all evaporated when their lips met for the first, but definitely not the last time.
"Well, I guess that settles it!" Medli said with a laugh. "I'm not leaving you guys anytime soon!"
"I'm glad you found out what she was to say," a voice interrupted their small exchange. Red pushed Medli out of the embrace and turned to face the talker.
It was none other than Shadow Link.
Link suddenly heard a mysterious melody play throughout the ship.
"The sun's song. But it's on a lyre!" Blue declared. "Hey, where'd that creature go?"
Link opened his eyes to see that the creature that a minute ago was about to kill him or worse was now gone, and the deck they were on was flooded in light. Blue was standing above him, face creased in worry. Blue offered his hand, pulling Link up, and the two turned around to face a mysterious, but definitely benevolent figure.
He was a few inches taller than Blue, but his presence made him seem much taller. He was wearing a long, blue coat that reminded Link and Blue of the sea. His eyes were blue as well, also sea-blue. His hair was long as well, though it was dark. Link immediately noticed that he held a map in one hand. Blue, on the other hand, noticed that he had a sword in a scabbard around his waist.
"Greetings, heroes," he said in a clear voice. "I have just been rescued by your clone above and his female companion. Because of that, I am now able to appear to you like this."
"Greetings, Linebeck, Guardian of Oceans," Link replied. "It is an honor to meet you. But… you are-"
"Not like the Linebeck of legend?" Linebeck smiled. "It's true, I seem more cleaned up, and I seem less cowardly."
"But why?" Blue asked. "You can't have changed that much."
"No. No one can. But someone can face their fears. For the most part, I have done that," Linebeck seemed a little sad, now. "The one thing that is still bothering me is the loss of my crew. They're still wandering around at the bottom deck as reaplings, like the things that you just saw."
"How do we get to the bottom deck?" Link asked.
"There's only one way down there, and that's with the key from the Cubus sisters. There are four of them, scattered through the next two decks. If you find and reunite them all, they'll challenge you to a deadly game. If you survive it, you get their key. Then you'll reach the bottom deck. I don't know what I could do, but I'd like to try."
"We shall try for you, Linebeck!" Link and Blue cried together. Linebeck smiled once again. Then he seemed to realize something.
"Neither of you are the hero that I knew!" he cried.
"Then you must've known either Red or Vio, curse him," Link's face darkened.
"Oh well. I'm awakening on the deck. I'll have to go now and see who Red is," Linebeck waved them goodbye and disappeared.
"Let's go," Link said to Blue. "We have a Guardian's request to deal with."
"Shadow!" Red cried as Shadow Link began to walk forwards. "You saved us?"
"Yes, I did, actually," Shadow Link replied. By now, he was face to face with Red, the closest he'd been to another living thing in almost five thousand years. Medli and Red didn't shy away from him. Rather, Red stepped forwards to meet him, while Medli followed him closely.
"Thank you so much!" Red said happily and smiled widely at Shadow Link. However, his smile faded when he saw the sadness in Shadow's eyes.
"I didn't do it for you," Shadow said quietly. "I didn't do it for her, either."
"Of course you didn't," Medli said matter-of-factly. "I've never seen you before anyway."
"Hold your tongue," Shadow Link snarled, before seemingly regaining composure of himself. "Sorry. I wanted to stay calm with this meeting, but it seems that I'm losing control. Well, anyway, I didn't do It for you two. I did it for what you were saying, Medli."
"You mean 'Red, not meaning to be sappy or anything, but I-', right?" Medli asked.
"Right," Shadow Link replied.
"Why?" Red asked.
"Once, someone began a statement such as that. Someone I truly care about. All I ever heard from my best friend was 'Link, I-' before she broke herself off. I never saw her again!"
Red searched his mind for which Link had those words associated with him. Suddenly, it hit him.
"You were the Hero of Twilight, weren't you?" Red asked quietly. Medli drew in a breath.
"Yes," Shadow Link replied. "Or rather, the little bit of Vio that is still Vio was."
"You never found out what she was planning to say?"
"Never. Regardless of what side you are fighting for, I don't want you to feel the same way."
"I knew that your goodness would pull through!" Red smiled widely.
"No," Shadow Link replied. "It isn't goodness. It's the fact that I don't want anyone to feel it. If the situation had been that you were Bellum, Ganondorf was you, and Medli was Ganondorf's love, I'd attack you."
"Even so, thank you," Red smiled. Then he realized something. "Wait, Ganondorf? He has someone he loves?"
"Yes," Shadow Link replied. "So remember. Don't ever put yourself in a situation when you are like Bellum was today. Because then I'll attack you."
With that, he faded.
"Oh, Red!" Medli ran into his embrace again. "I never expected him to be so… sad. So heartbroken. I'm glad that he saved you from being that sad."
"I know," Red replied. "That's why I feel for him."
"Feeling for him is a very admirable thing, O hero in red," came a voice behind Medli and Red. Red whirled around to see that the tall, dark-haired figure that he'd rescued earlier was now standing up. After a moment, he suddenly broke into a smile and rushed towards him.
"Link! Hero of Winds and Phantoms! I knew I'd meet you again!" he grinned and hugged him. "How you've grown! You haven't forgotten me, have you? Oh, of course you wouldn't!"
"And I thought Guardians were supposed to be serious and mature," Medli smiled. "Linebeck, as I assume you are, please let him go before you strangle him."
"Sorry." Linebeck turned pink and released Red, who was looking a little stunned. He had known a Guardian in a past life? Well, he certainly didn't now. He supposed his memory would come back in time, however. He had a feeling that that was important. And besides, he was feeling the same déjà vu feeling that he'd felt when he'd first met Medli, he realized.
I knew them both in past lives, Red thought. How good it is that though there is evil all around us, at least we get to meet people that we knew and possibly loved. At least, in this horror, we have friends standing behind us.
"Now, come on, Link!" Linebeck laughed and took his hand, dragging him into the hatch.
"Linebeck, here I must tell you," Red said quietly. "I'm known as Red now. I have three clones who are named-"
"Link, Blue, and currently Shadow Link, I know. I only called you Link out of habit," Linebeck replied. "Old habits die hard, I guess." Then he broke into laughter. Red just smiled.
"Do you prefer Red?" Linebeck asked a minute later as he threw open the hatch.
"I do, actually," Red replied.
"Got it, Red. Now that that's cleared up, let's go and help those clones of yours!" with that, Linebeck walked inside, Red following hot on his heels.
"Wait for me!" Medli laughed and trotted behind them.
"Who's that?" Linebeck asked. "I was only told that you're travelling with two of your clones, not some girl."
"That's Medli," Red replied.
"Is she your girlfriend?" Linebeck smirked. Red was stunned. He supposed that someone would ask him that one some time, but had no clue how to answer! Was that kiss and those words just a fluke, or were they going to stay together?
His question was answered when Medli finally caught up with them. Not even hesitating, she slid her hand into Red's palm.
"Red, I'm a little scared, but if you keep holding my hand, I'll be fine," she whispered to him.
"Yes, she is, actually," Red turned to Linebeck with a small grin. "And boy am I glad that she is."
"Yes, die, you creepy Phantom Ganon-esque creep!" Blue screamed and swung his sword at the energy balls the Cubus sisters had shot at them.
He and Link had been playing a deadly game with the Cubus sisters for several minutes now. They'd managed to defeat the red Cubus sister, though she'd given them a hard time. The other three (red, green, and purple), were worse than she, however.
"Phantom Ganon-esque?" Link asked Blue quietly.
"The one thing I remember about a past life is rescuing Saria from Phantom Ganon," Blue replied. "Come to think of it, these are a sort of cross between the Poe sisters and Phantom Ganon. NOW DIE!" The last words were aimed at the green Cubus sister as he reflected yet another ball. However, she just laughed and shot it back at them.
"Isn't this fun?" she cried with a laugh and tossed another into the fray.
"No, it's not, actually," Link growled. He was very frustrated. His boomerang and Blue's hammer didn't work. This was the one place where having Vio's arrows would actually assist them rather than causing trouble. Well, admittedly, the flame wand or Medli would do the job just as well. Still, Link had just had his first positive thought about Vio, a milestone even of itself.
However, it was soon interrupted when the green Cubus sister suddenly burst into flames and the Blue Cubus sister collapsed. Link and Blue whirled around to see Red lowering his flame wand and Medli's feet touch the ground.
"Need a hand?" Linebeck asked from behind the two newcomers. "We've got it covered." With that, Red aimed his flame wand at the purple one and Medli prepared to fly again. Even Linebeck seemed to charge an energy ball between his hands. Then, in a moment in which time seemed to slow down, all three launched their attack at the unfortunate sister.
"I have been defeated!" she howled. Then, seeming to regain control of herself, she dropped a creepy-looking key and flew off with a final cackle of "Come play with us again!"
"Well, that was easy," Link declared and scooped up the key. "Now let's finish this!" With that, he began to stride off. After a moment, Blue followed him. Then came Red and Medli, who were holding hands once more. Finally, Linebeck brought up the rear, whistling a song that sounded strangely like the "Ode of the Master Sword". Medli stopped walking and turned to face him.
"Hmm, that sounds familiar…" she mumbled before grabbing Red's hand once more. The little group continued walking, killing the occasional monster, until they reached the lock for the key. Link handed the key to Linebeck and he and Blue stepped aside. It was then when they realized Red and Medli were holding hands.
"I take it something happened up there that brought the two of you together," Blue said with a smirk.
"Yep," Medli replied cheerfully. Red just nodded as Linebeck finally opened the door and the group sauntered down to bottom of the Ghost Ship. The first thing that they all noticed was that it was crawling with Reaplings.
"Your crew?" Link asked. "If so, it was big." Linebeck nodded and stepped out of the puddle of that glowing substance from earlier. Instantly, he was faced with several of those weapons of theirs. Link closed his eyes, not wanting to see their new ally die.
However, when all the reaplings slashed, a blinding light exploded, causing the reaplings to emit cries of agony in unison. Link and Blue turned to see that Red had struck a large switch with an emblem on it. Neither got close to the switch, but if they had, they would've seen that the emblem was of a wave, the symbol of the ocean. The symbol of the Guardian of Oceans.
When the light subsided, the reaplings were all shimmering. They seemed to be morphing into people who Link was pretty sure were pirates. However, they looked rather transparent, like ghosts. Then, in a single movement, they all knelt to Linebeck, who was now glowing. Link, Blue, Red, and Medli followed suit. After all, it appeared that Linebeck had finally been returned to the full status of a Guardian.
"My crew," Linebeck was now speaking to the ghosts. "This has been hurting me for many years. I am sorry that I left you to become reaplings to save myself."
"What do you need to be sorry for?" one of the ghosts asked.
"We forgave you long ago," another said.
"You acted as any of us as humans would've," yet another finished. "Why are you so upset with yourself?"
"Survivor's guilt!" Red piped up.
"Not only that," Linebeck continued. "You say that I acted as a human would. Yet I am not human, not anymore. I am a sacred Guardian of Farore. If you truly forgave me, my power would be released once more."
"It already is," a ghost that appeared to be the quartermaster said. "Look at yourself."
As Linebeck followed his orders, the ghosts disappeared at once. It was as if they'd never been there. Linebeck exhaled, then realized that the remaining four were kneeling.
"Why the formality?" he said, laughing. "I'm still Linebeck! Now come on; let's go rescue my sister!"
"You helped the hero, didn't you?" a voice thundered.
Shadow Link screamed as he was hit with more dark energy than he'd known existed. It felt as though fire was burning in his veins, burning him from the inside. At the same time, it felt as though his skin was being torn open, his muscles clawed at by the monster that was the energy, his bones ground to bits, his brain liquefied (he knew what it felt. Unfortunately, a Wizzrobe had thought it would be funny if Shadow Link veiled his consciousness temporarily to another Wizzrobe that was being tortured in the same way. However, Bellum had gone a bit farther and had actually liquefied it's brain. Shadow Link had barely made it out of that one alive).
"Sir," he whimpered. "It was Vio! Vio took control!"
"You lie!" the voice bellowed again. "You said yourself that Vio and Dark Link no longer exist; that there is just you, Shadow Link!"
"Well, there's enough left to leave me with instincts from Vio!" Shadow Link gasped. "It won't happen again."
"It had better not," the voice finished ominously. With that, the monstrous squid known as Bellum left the room. Shadow Link, however, lay writhing on the floor for a minute longer.
He wouldn't be able to take much more of this.