25 chapters and we're like halfway done. This story is gettin' looooong.
Hello hello my lovely reader! Welcome back! Tarry not and read on!
(Actually 3 exclamation points in 3 sentences)
Link had been scared before, sure. There were the times when he was new to the ring in Castle Town, the tight pit of nerves clustered in his stomach, and then facing off against Gangstadorf. But this was something new altogether.
The creature had awakened memories inside of him he had spent years burying, packed down so deep in his memory he never needed to remember them, so they would never injured him again. Now they rushed at him with full force. Every time he closed his eyes fire shrouded his vision and smoke choked his throat, and he was left trembling uncontrollably, completely rattled and hollow.
He was sure Zelda noticed the change but thankfully didn't pry at him again. She was giving him the cold shoulder as well, and he supposed she had a good reason to. Now he couldn't worry about her, though – he was still trying to keep his hands from trembling.
Zelda was the other problem, and mostly because her reasoning was completely sound. They had had fights before, but most of them were petty exchanges. He could tell that this time he had really wounded her with his words, which was the opposite of what he wanted to do, but emotions were tumbling inside of him like churning waves and he had snapped. The last thing he wanted to do was anything that would injure her, but now he had damaged their friendship. Link despised his weakness and clenched his fists as tightly as he could, forcing them to remain still.
His weakness. That was just another problem to add to the list. How could he slay Bokoblins easily, then be completely incapacitated by a strange monster he had never seen before in mere seconds? He had frozen as the monster delved into his mind, tearing out his worst fears, the memories that made his feet cement to the ground as pure terror pumped through his veins, screams burrowing into his skull. The Hero wouldn't be scared. He would stick the Goddess Sword into the monster's heart and be done with it.
Strangely, his argument with Roxus back in Castle Town came to mind, when he had flung himself at the Goron when he insulted him. Who's the Cuccoo now, huh?
With a low rumble the gears jolted to life again, grinding when they swept over the body of the creature. Link set his jaw and forced his nerves into his stomach, slowly releasing his fingers from their tight grasp. Whatever the creature was, it was dead. It was gone.
"Where are we trying to go?" He called to Zelda, and she looked over at him with a gaze as cool as ice. Instead of meeting her glaring eyes he dropped his gaze to his boots, shifting from foot to foot awkwardly. Zelda took her sweet time responding, and when she spoke her voice was clipped and refined, like she was talking to a businessman rather than a friend.
"Up above us, the ceiling's a hatch an upper room above. We have to figure out how to open it." Nose in the air, she turned away from him and walked over to the crawl space they had ventured through. "You can see from here the water wheel started up again. There must be some sort of timer."
Link nodded but didn't reply, keeping his gaze trained on his scuffed boots. Zelda's manner had completely changed since when he snapped at her, and he could tell she was angry and hurt. Already, as he slowly recovered from the attack on his mind, he was feeling guilty about his actions, but it was too soon to ask for forgiveness. Besides, he told himself, it was just as much her fault as his. Why was she trying to pry into her personal life, anyways? Why did she care?
But she told you all about her life, the sensible part of him spoke. Why shouldn't you do the same? It's only fair.
He shoved these thoughts aside and glanced around the room, searching for some other clues to how they could open the hatch.
The answer came in a trapdoor in the large grate that stretched over the cesspool, the hinges almost rusted through. Link raised the trapdoor, straining to life the heavy iron, and it clattered to the grate with an ear-shattering clamor. Zelda hurried to his side as he knelt to peer into the darkness, the only sound from below the low ebb and flow of the water.
"What do you make of it?" He asked, aiming for a more friendly tone. Maybe if he acted more personable Zelda would come back to her senses. If the goddesses were smiling on him then perhaps she would apologize for sticking her nose where it didn't belong.
"There's got to be something down there that helps us. The water wheel makes the gears move, but that doesn't do anything inside from what I'v seen." Zelda's tone betrayed the slightest touch of interest, and Link knew he was making progress. As if she could read his mind Zelda leaned back, her features rearranging to a polite yet expressionless mask. "You should investigate."
"You should too!" Link protested, standing and crossing his arms. Zelda glared at him fiercely and it became obvious she wasn't going to give in. Even so, Link was unwilling to concede until he realized that the fate of Hyrule rested on their shoulders. With resignation he lowered himself to the trapdoor and gripped the iron grating tightly, then lowered himself slowly into the cavity, feet dangling.
He felt around the air for a ladder or anything that could support his weight, but blank space surrounded the trapdoor. His arms began to burn with strain and his fingers were numbed from the cold iron. Falling seemed inevitable. Tilting his head upward to face Zelda, he gave her a thankless smile.
"There's no ladder." He declared, hoping to spark some sort of pity in her, but her face betrayed no expression.
"Terrible shame." She smiled in return and Link's grip slackened, sending him crashing to the water of the pool below.
He crashed into the water with the force of a bullet, pain sparkling across his body, but it was dimmed by his anger. I'm sorry, okay? He grit his teeth and muttered a few choice oaths under his breath. Cut me some slack, will you?
A more immediate problem faced him, besides Zelda's anger – he needed to find a ledge to climb up on, otherwise he'd drown. Paddling over to the wall, Link raised a hand to feel along the slimy, lichen-dappled rocks, searching again for a ladder or any way up. After swimming around the entire length of the pool he realized that, like the trapdoor above, a way up or down hadn't been provided. He drew in a deep breath and slowly let himself lower to the ground, jolting back up as soon as he ran out of air. The floor of the cesspool was too low for him to stand on, either.
Link fished the Hookshot out of his pocket and aimed it at the iron grate, then rocketed out of the clammy embrace of the water and dangled from one arm. Zelda kneeled beside him, expression still as solid as stone.
"Anything?" She asked, and Link shook his head.
"It's pitch-black down there. Even if there was a clue I can't see it." He admitted, and a strange feeling of shame prickled at his chest. He had failed Zelda again, even if this was only a petty example. "I'm sorry."
The words slipped out of his mouth before he could stop them, and Zelda's reaction was instantaneous – she recoiled in shock, a myriad of expressions darting across her features before a spark of fire lighted in her eyes. He cringed, waiting for her to curse him or spit at him or something, but instead she smiled. Link was freezing cold from swimming in the frigid water, but Zelda's smile warmed him to the core.
"You're an idiot, you know that?" She declared, then laughed lightly. Still in shock from her sudden change of mood, Link blinked, wondering if he was dreaming.
"So, apology accepted?"
"Sure." It was almost too good to be true. "Here, I'm coming down. Hand me a Hookshot, will you?"
Zelda lowered herself below the grate beside him and pulled out her bow, which lit the cesspool with a glowing light. Link stared at the massive collection of cogs and wheels that were hidden deep underneath the surface of the water, rusty and marred with age. Zelda directed his gaze to the largest gear, with teeth as wide as Link was, and a block of rotting wood that was set between its spokes.
"It's like the water wheel – each of the gears is blocked. We have to open them in time..." Her voice suddenly trailed off and Link followed her gaze to a feature of the machinery that certainly wasn't supposed to be there: a skeleton. The bleached-white bones shone under the churning surface of the water, and Link gripped the Hookshot tightly in his grip. Suddenly falling seemed much more dangerous.
"Well, there wasn't a way up." Link admitted, tearing his eyes away from the skeleton. "I guess he must have drowned. Not our problem." Releasing the Hookshot, he dove to the area where the largest gear was, and Zelda splashed in next to him. When she emerged her short hair was plastered to her head, sticking out at odd angles, and he was sure he looked no better.
"Dive down and help me get the wood out!" Zelda ordered, then sucked in a large breath and shot down towards the metal. Link filled his lungs and followed her, feet kicking through the sluggish water, until he was perched on the other side of the cog, grasping the ancient wood. Zelda signaled and he strained to pull the wood up, every muscle taut as he pulled, and a shower of bubbles escaped from his lips. As soon as he was sure he would run out of breath the wood gave way the slightest inch and he pulled even harder, tugging with all his might until the wood slowly rose from its previous perch and floated eye-level in the water. With a roar dampened by the water the gears came to live and churned though the water, grinding against each other in a metallic cacophony.
Link's head burst to the surface of the water and he gasped for breath, Zelda emerging soon after him. A strange sinking sensation filled him and he looked at the mossy walls, surprised to see the water level slowly dropping. Soon he and Zelda stood on the thick stone ground of the cesspool, slick under his boots, and along the walls three doors emerged from the water. The two that flanked the middle one had large keyholes, but the other had a simple doorknob.
"It's a process." Zelda whispered, voice echoing in the now-empty cesspool, filling the expanse. "We've got to hurry before it fills up again."
A jolt of fear coursed up Link's spine and he hurried forward, suddenly aware of every second that passed. Drowning in these rooms wouldn't be preferable by any stretch of the word.
Inside of the open room the floor dipped down into a deep chasm that rose again on the other side. A single moss-encrusted chest sat on the other side, and the only feature that crossed the expanse were two long cables, fastened by bucklers to the walls. Hanging between the cables was a small hanging platform, also speckled with lichen. Link's eyes darted to the cables and then to Zelda, who watched him with similar concern.
"If these cables have been underwater for a millennium..." He began, and Zelda waved a hand airily, although she still looked nervous.
"I'm sure it's fine." It wasn't exactly a vote of confidence, but Link shrugged off his wariness and observed the rest of the room carefully.
Two tall pillars reached from the chasm, topped by strange structures Link had never seen before. He could only liken them to windmills, with four blades turned on their side around a single rotating center. As he watched a gust of wind billowed through the room and turned the spokes around, which let the platform inch forward slightly.
"Okay, so the windmills turn the platform. That's easy enough. But how to we get it to turn?" Zelda frowned, her brows knitting in concentration. It's good to have her back. Even so, Link could still feel the slightest bit of awkwardness between them. He'd have to officially apologize later. Grimacing at the thought, he turned to face the windmills and pulled out one of the Hookshots.
The barbs caught on the worn stone of the pillar, tearing off some of the moss as the deep claws dug gouges in the rock, and Link clambered onto the top of the pillar and pushed with all of his might. The windmill blades groaned in protest and then gave to the pressure, but one side of the platform began to edge forward while the other stayed resolutely still. The cables whined in protest and Link stepped back, observing his handiwork.
"Give me a Hookshot!" Zelda called to him from the near end of the chasm, which looked much further away than it had moments ago. He dug the second Hookshot out and tossed it to her. In seconds she was on the other platform, pushing at the blades to level the platform. When the two sides were equal and the cables released their tautness she gestured for him to start pushing again.
Following Zelda's pace, Link slowly winched his side of the platform back to the near end of the chasm. Occasionally one side of the structure would lean further than the other, but the platform and cables were still intact by the time it reached the ground. Using the Hookshot on a patch of moss on the wall, Link regrouped with Zelda by the platform, observing their situation.
"Someone will have to ride the platform over, but we need two to keep the gears moving." Zelda bit her lip, eyes focused on the problem.
"Makes you wish Zario had come along, huh?" Link wondered aloud, stepping onto the platform. The wood swung and bowed slightly under his weight, but it seemed sturdy for being sunk underwater for years. The cables leaned as well, but only slightly. "So far, so good."
Zelda's head snapped up and Link took a half step back, alarmed. "The Deku Leaf!"
"What about it?" Link asked, putting the Hookshot away and pulling out the large leaf, still speckled with ash. He brushed the dust off without a second thought, refusing to let the fire and death of that night affect him.
"Use the wind from it to blow the windmill!"
Link pointed to the Deku Leaf with suspicion. "This thing? How?"
Zelda mimed a gesture, raising her hands and bringing them down sharply like she was slamming something down on a desk. Still wary, Link hoisted the Deku Leaf above his head, aiming for the windmill on his left, and swung his arms down with all his might.
A burst of wind spiraled from the leaf, blowing Link back as it gusted through the air and spun into the rotors of the windmill, spinning the blades quickly until they blurred. The left side of the platform lurched forward, almost throwing Link off into the chasm, and the cables shrieked in protest as one side stretched like a bowstring and the other hung loose. The grating of a chain echoed in Link's ears and he turned to see Zelda rocket over to the other side of the platform and lean her weight into the second windmill, slowly pulling the other side of the platform level with the first.
They proceeded across the chasm in this manner, with Link using the Deku Leaf and Zelda's strength to winch his way across the expanse to the other side. He jumped from the wooden base with relief and quickly opened the chest, which contained two identical silver keys, dappled with verdigris from age. The journey back to the near side of the chasm was much quicker than the first, and when Link disembarked from the platform he showed Zelda what he had found.
"These will go to the two doors, I'm sure of it." She smiled, hurrying to the door. "Let's go! The sooner we get to those rooms the better."
The door opened and Link was surprised when a rush of water coursed over his boots, rising to the middle of his calves. The cesspool was slowly refilling. A new sense of urgency took over and he tossed Zelda one of the keys, which fit into the lock and the decorated keyhole clattered to the ground. The second door leaned open into yawning blackness and Link followed Zelda in, hand reaching to the Goddess Sword. If anything jumped them he was prepared.
As it turned out something did jump them – three Bokoblins leaped from the shadows, brandishing strange weapons Link had never seen before. Even the Bokoblins themselves looked strange, with bloated bodies, dripping garments and weapons garnished with rust. Their blades crackled with electricity and Link took a hasty step back. Drawing his shield, he advanced towards the enemies, Goddess Sword at the ready.
One of the more wily of the three stepped forward and swung a wild strike at Link, and he blocked the blow easily. The low snapping of electricity filled his ears and his hair stood on end, the arm that held his shield falling numb. Spitting out a curse, Link dropped it to the ground and stabbed at the Bokoblin. The blade sunk into the swollen flesh of the beast, but it seemed unfazed and swung upwards in a stroke that would have cut Link's head clean from his shoulders had he not ducked. Rising to his feet, Link lunged forward and cut through the Bokoblin's throat, and it fell to the damp stones, dead.
Link turned to see the other two Bokoblins in the same state as the first, arrows shot clean through their throats. He glared at Zelda, slightly irked that she had stolen his thunder, and she shrugged.
"What? You were taking too long."
As if triggered by the death of the Bokoblins, a gushing rumbled from the end of the room, and Link looked up to see lapping water slowly begin to crawl up the length of his boots, inch by inch.
"They're flooding the room! Get out!" Zelda cried, darting after him, then a sharp scream left her lips. A loud splash echoed from behind him and Link pivoted to see her trembling frame collapsed in the water. The Bokoblin he had stabbed through the neck knelt beside her, its electric blade slicing across her thigh. Alarm spiked through Link and he swiftly cut off the Bokoblin's head, then hefted Zelda's limp frame from the ground and pulled her to the door. Water sloshed around his knees and he knew it would fill the room before he reached the door.
"Link..." Zelda's voice whispered in his ear and he felt something warm against his side, glancing down to see crimson blood staining his tunic. Zelda's blood.
"I'm not leaving you." He stated resolutely, dragging his feet through the water as it crept over his knees. Each step took every ounce of strength he had, and Zelda's body was only growing heavier.
"Link, you have to!" She hissed, and even in her wounded state her tone was firm and strong. "Get out of here, leave me."
"No!" He roared. "We'll get out of here alive."
As the water rushed up to thigh-level Zelda' voice was almost lost in the din. "Promise me you'll tell me everything when we get out. I hate it when we fight. We'll go to a restaurant with white tablecloths and you'll tell me everything, okay?"
Her words cut into Link like daggers and he swallowed the lump in his throat. "Sure, princess. Whatever you say."
The door was only ten yards away, but the water had reached Link's waist and his strength was spent. He couldn't take another step. Turning to Zelda, his lips met hers and she leaned into him, tenderly, passionately, then shoved him away with so much force that he was battered against the door. Shocked and startled, he met her eyes and saw desperation there, anger and laughter and an emotion he had rarely, if ever, seen touch those eyes of hers.
Fear.
"Go!" She shouted, then her eyes rolled back in her head and she collapsed under the water, figure disappearing under the black waves.
What do you get when you mix a joke with a cliffhanger?
Reviews, favorites and follows go to the SAVE ZELDA *DISTRESSED SCREAMING* Company. In all seriousness, it would mean a ton to me if you reviewed! Your genius feedback gives me life :)
Calling all brilliant theorists. What's going to happen? Is this the last we'll see of Zelda? Is this the last you want to see of Zelda?
This A/N is way too long already. Until next time, then! *dun dun dunnn*