AN: It's lucky I'm quite a ways ahead in this story, because I haven't written anything this week. Undertale has invaded my life, and I can't tear myself away. That being said, I did finally get round to getting a cover image for this story... But, anyhow, here we are! The finale is nearly, nearly upon us. I'd like to thank silverheartlugia2000 and RyoKushei for your reviews - thank you! Also, thanks to those who favourited/followed this week, it means a lot.
Now, let's get this show on the road, shall we? Here's chapter twenty-eight, enjoy!
28- The Ascent
Link had, if anything, underestimated the amount of foes Ganondorf had placed around the castle. They filled the grounds to bursting. Every corner and gateway brought a new enemy, a new surprise attack. The worst part was that Link was fairly sure this was only the beginning, that the castle itself would be filled with a hundred times more monsters. It was ridiculous, it was infuriating.
And it wasn't just enemies, though- the fighting was the most enjoyable part of the whole ordeal –because wherever Link went magical golden barriers followed him. He had to step carefully, lest he trigger a spell that trapped him in a death match with a horde of monsters. Not that being careful actually helped, because they kept popping up wherever he went anyway, presenting a constant delay.
What did Ganondorf even need all this for? There was no way it was going to keep Link out, and Ganondorf could easily deal with guards or soldiers or anyone else who might take a shot at him.
It was just to make Link's life as difficult as possible, wasn't it?
He complained about it to Midna as he crouched beneath a broken wall, sheltering from the persistent rain as he caught his breath, having just dealt with an entire camp of bulblins that had sprung up in the castle grounds. This was going to be hard enough as it was, he didn't need to be dealing with all these delays and petty tricks as well.
'You're right, it's probably deliberate,' Midna agreed from his shadow, safe from the frigid rain. 'You know- knew each other, after all. I'm sure he knows how to rile you up.'
Well, to be fair, Ganondorf had an innate sense of how to get under people's skin anyway, but Link couldn't deny the truth of Midna's words. It bothered him, not just because it was a reminder of the things he had done but also because it meant that Ganondorf knew him well, while he didn't know Ganondorf at all. Or at least, not as well. He really hadn't remembered all that much, especially not how to irritate the guy.
'It's fine though, isn't it? You can deal with all these minions easily.' Her words were encouraging, but Link got the definite sense Midna was enjoying the whole ordeal. Probably in a vindictive kind of way; seeing him struggle, suffering for his crimes.
Easy fights weren't the issue, though. Well, they were, but less because they were a hindrance and more because of the bigger problem they presented; when he reached the top of the castle, reached Ganondorf, he would be battered, he would be bruised, he would be tired. There was no way he would be able to put up a good fight. Though he guessed that was always the case, in every age. It was a dirty trick, underhanded, but he couldn't say he didn't see the practicality of it.
Heaving a sigh Link rolled his shoulders slowly before straightening, doing a few stretches as he peered up at the grey sky. Of all the times to rain, it just had to be now, didn't it? Ganondorf was probably causing this too, just to make Link even more miserable than he already was.
He craned his head back, trying to see the top of the castle as he threw the structure a hearty glare, wishing looks could kill. That would make everything so much simpler, wouldn't it?
'Quit moping and get on with it,' Midna sighed from his feet, and Link could just picture the way she was no doubt rolling her eyes. 'We haven't got all day.'
Unable to help himself Link shot back that maybe she should lend a hand and help, which got him nothing more than a long yawn.
'I broke the barrier, didn't I? Give me a break, you have no idea how difficult controlling the Fused Shadows is,' she said, tone flippant in a way that grated on Link's nerves. He took a deep breath before slamming his foot down on his shadow, hoping she felt it in some way, before carrying on, wondering just how angry he was going to be by the time he reached the top of the castle. If he ever did. He might end up in an eternal series of death matches with monsters, though wasn't that just his whole life anyway, in the end?
With that cheery thought in mind Link stomped onwards, lightening his steps somewhat as he found himself passing through the castle cemetery, where he learned that Ganondorf even had the dead working for him. Or at least, some of the dead.
But, a horde of tiny skeletons later and Link was back on his way to the castle's front doors, which he had finally found a key for. Or what he was hoping was a key for.
It was, as it turned out, and Link stepped out from the rain gratefully, uncomfortably damp. He didn't get time to dry off, though, as another golden ring of doom appeared around him, fencing him in. Sighing heavily he pulled the Master Sword free, wondering why he had even sheathed it in the first place, hesitating just briefly as he did so. He was still expecting rejection, for his hand to burst into flames or something, but so far nothing had happened. Maybe Midna had been right, after all.
But even if Fi was ready to accept him, sins and all, he wasn't, and so he hesitated.
Of course he couldn't hesitate for long as a whole horde of bokoblins and lizalfos waded their way through the rippling barrier, weapons aloft as they ran at him. Link dealt with them easily, but he could feel the beginnings of the strain, the Master Sword's slow gain in weight as he wore himself out. There was nothing he could do, though, because the barriers only dropped when the monsters were dead.
Once they were all slain Link paused for a moment to catch his breath, admiring the castle's elaborate entryway; a large room with a chequered floor, about fifty chandeliers, and intricate decorations on just about every surface. Link would never understand how people could live in such luxury while people barely fifty metres from the front door starved. To be honest he also just couldn't see how people could live in such large buildings. Wasn't there just too much space? How did Zelda manage? Didn't she get lonely?
Probably, but now wasn't the time to think about it.
Link pressed on.
As it turned out the chandeliers proved to be handy in getting out of the room, seeing as the only doors, as far as he could tell, stood on balconies some twenty metres above his head. He assumed Ganondorf had something to do with that.
The next gloomy room revealed another barrier, guarded by a Darknut that Link spent the next ten minutes dealing with. He got the feeling that the closer he got to Ganondorf, the more powerful his monster guards would become. He wondered if it would just be monsters, or if some human followers would be thrown into the mix as well as he clambered up onto the ledge at the back of the room, the Darknut fading into nothingness behind him.
Making his way out into a patch of sunlight Link found himself in a corridor, a long strip of dark blue carpet running along its length, its high ceiling carved into all manner of strange panoramas. The door at the far end was guarded by two lizalfos, but that hardly presented an issue. Getting the door open was a bigger problem, though Link eventually found the answer behind one of the no doubt priceless paintings hung on the wall. He didn't really feel all that bad as he sent it crashing to the ground.
After that first corridor the castle became something more akin to what Link had first expected; all long, elaborately decorated hallways with innumerable rooms branching off of them, instead of rooms filled with convoluted puzzles or doors where no one could reach them. As he had predicted the enemies steadily grew tougher, or greater in their numbers, as he ran to and fro, trying to make sense of the castle's layout.
At some point he ended up back outside on the battlements, where the rain was still falling and the sky was becoming steadily darker, another storm on the way. Fitting, given what was coming.
As he wandered around, staring up at the castle's high rooftops, there came a familiar pain in his skull and he caught himself on some railings as his legs threatened to buckle, a second before the past overtook him.
He was going to see Zelda.
Things were getting out of control, and he could use a little wisdom right now, now that everything was beginning to fall apart, fraying at the seams. He blamed Zant. This had all started after the whole debacle with the sages and that weird realm- the Twilight Realm. Zant's realm.
Gritting his teeth at the thought of that idiot Link walked on, taking care not to misplace his feet as he stalked along the slick tiles. The castle's rooftops were blustery, slippery with rain, and entirely unguarded. A wave of disdain towards the castle guards rolled over him as he made his way towards the tower, which he knew was where Zelda's chambers were. Why were they always so pathetic?
Well, with the way things were going they were going to get their comeuppance for being so useless soon.
A tremor of anxiety at the thought made Link's chest tighten and he paused, glancing out over the dark plains of Hyrule. How had it come to this? Things had been going fine, so why was this happening? He hadn't come this far just for everything to fall apart like this, like they always did. They had been doing so well.
Was it really impossible to escape fate?
With a soft gasp Link yanked himself back to the present, shaking his head viciously until his ears rang. He didn't need this right now, so he ignored the new memory, wandering the battlements for a little while until he came across a very obvious trap in the form of a tall, dark watchtower, at the base of which sat a chest. A chest that looked very similar to those that housed certain important keys in certain important temples.
Not sure what else to do Link approached cautiously, noting the high drop on either side of him as several lizalfos jumped from the tower, landing nearby and immediately dashing straight towards him. Adjusting his stance Link glanced up past them, seeing movement in the tower's dark windows, along with small points of bright orange. He just barely rolled out of the way in time as a fiery arrow shot towards him, realising just in time that the movement was bulblins, complete with their favourite weapons; bows and flaming arrows.
Sliding to his feet Link adjusted his grip on the Master Sword, letting the hordes come to him.
Only they never made it, because halfway across the walkway an explosion sent them all careening to their deaths, flinging them off the battlements with a loud boom that made Link cringe back. Lifting an arm he shielded his face from the sudden light and smoke, feeling the whole walkway shake slightly. The acrid smell of smoke and burning monster made Link wrinkle his nose as he slowly dropped his arm, trying to work out what had just happened.
A fierce gust of wind started to clear the smoke, in time to reveal the bulbins in the watchtower dropping as well, falling from their high windows with arrows lodged in their skulls. A caw to his left made Link look over, to see a hawk wheeling above his head. He followed its path as it started to descend, drifting down past the battlements to the grounds below, so he crossed to the rails, leaning over them and then grinning at what he saw. Four familiar figures, one with a bow in hand, another with what looked like a small, portable cannon. Shad waved, Rusl held out an arm for the hawk to land on.
'Doing all right up there?' Ashei called, slinging her bow over a shoulder. Nodding Link shouted down his thanks before asking what they were doing here.
'Fighting the storm,' Auru replied, standing slowly with the cannon resting on his shoulder. 'This is what we formed the Resistance for, after all.'
'We've got your back, yeah?' Ashei said, and even across the distance Link could see her fierce grin.
'We won't get in the way of your fight,' Shad added, adjusting his glasses, 'but we'll be there behind you, should you need us.' Rusl nodded at this, and Link's throat suddenly felt tight. His grin fell away as he wondered how eager they'd be to help if they knew who he really was, the things he'd done. He'd been one of the very people they were fighting against now.
He leaned back slightly as guilt pressed down on his shoulders, pain twisting in his chest, before he hitched a grim smile onto his face, thanking them again before telling them to be careful. Ashei scoffed while Auru gave a wave of acknowledgment, and Shad returned the sentiment before they were jogging away, off to deal with some more monsters. Rusl hung back, head tilted upwards as he watched Link, gaze firm.
'Link-' he began to say something then paused, a small laugh leaving him as he shook his head. 'We'll be waiting for you.' They stood in silence for a moment longer, before Rusl nodded and Link nodded back in silent understanding.
And then Rusl was gone, chasing after his companions, leaving Link alone on the rainy battlement. He stood for a few more seconds, only moving when a grumble from Midna prompted him to, making his way over to the chest that had been so heavily guarded. He had no time for delicacy, especially not with Ganondorf's belongings, so he kicked it until the lock gave way, allowing him to collect the elaborate key stowed within.
Weighing it in his hands Link stared down at it, the cold of the metal seeping into his fingers as a sudden melancholy pressed down on him. He couldn't place its source, but he assumed it was something to do with his past relationship with Ganondorf.
Shoving the key in a pocket Link shoved his feelings aside, continuing on his way. The rain and wind picked up as he went, the first rumbles of thunder ringing through the air as he slipped back into the castle. He found himself in a dark room, weirdly cold even compared to the rain outside, and he felt goosebumps rise along his arms for reasons unknown. He got the feeling he had just walked into a trap as he sensed the magic buzzing in the air; when he edged a little further into the room he noticed a number of holes in the tiled floor, which when he peered into one seemed to be bottomless despite this being only the third, maybe fourth floor of the castle. That definitely wasn't natural.
'Link, I think you should turn into a wolf for a bit,' Midna said suddenly, appearing at his side. When he asked her why she just pursed her lips, offering him Zant's curse as her eyes wandered around the room. He took it somewhat grudgingly, not wanting to think about Zant right then.
Still, a second of pain later and Link was on all fours, staring in surprised silence at the ghosts that had appeared before him.
'Do you see them?' Midna asked softly, to which Link nodded. Apparently his wolf eyes make them out where his human ones could not, and he padded closer to one warily. It looked like a soldier, with a dented helm and rusting armour, and for a moment its blank, lifeless eyes fell on Link before it lifted an arm listlessly to point in front of itself.
'I think it's giving you directions,' Midna said after a moment, as Link glanced in the direction it pointed. There was another ghost stood a little way away, flickering in the gloom. A flash of lightning illuminated it sharply, showing in grisly detail the hole in its chest. Looking back at the ghost in front of him Link noted it wore an old form of Hylian armour, which made up his mind for him. It had to be an ally, surely?
Hopping over a hole in the floor Link moved to the next ghost, veering a little off path as he went. When the floor starting crumbling beneath him he leapt back with a soft yelp, suddenly glad he hadn't decided to cross the room in a hurry.
Deciding to trust the ghosts- apparently Ganondorf hadn't got all the dead around the castle to help him –Link made his way across the floor, reaching the staircase in the far wall without any major incident. Midna handed back the Master Sword, and once he was upright again he stood quietly at the base of the steps for a moment.
And then he was climbing.
The stairs curved up in a wide spiral, gradually narrowing as Link went climbed up and up, round and round. The storm outside grew steadily fiercer, the wind whistling and moaning down the stairwell, tugging at Link with invisible fingers as it blew past him, as if trying to coax him back down.
It was so familiar. The staircase, the steps, the sense of impending doom. He kept expecting to round a corner and find himself following a blood red carpet through candlelit hallways, the deep thrum of an organ making the air shake, but everything remained stone. Grey, cold.
But even so, just like all those years ago each step brought with it growing sense of resignation, each one bringing him just a little closer to his death. His stomach was clenched so tightly he was shaking, his heart was in his mouth, throbbing in his ears. He felt lightheaded, forced to curl his hands into fists to stop them trembling.
He wasn't worried about the fight. Fighting was fine. He could do fighting. How many times had he fought Ganondorf now?
No, it was the coming confrontation that scared him. He wasn't sure he could face Ganondorf, now that he knew what he knew, remembered what he remembered... they had been friends, close friends.
What was he supposed to do? How was he supposed to do this? Ganondorf had never been his friend before. Link had never had to kill a friend.
'What's wrong?' Midna appeared in front of him and he realised he had stopped, staring blankly at the next twist in the staircase. He shook his head, telling her it was nothing as he made to walk on, but she stayed where she was, blocking his path. Her gaze was serious, searching as it flitted over his face until he looked away.
'You know you can't space out in battle, right? You'll be dead if you do.'
Of course he knew that, did she know who she was talking to? He didn't realise he'd snapped the words until she frowned, drifting closer to him.
'No, I can't say that I do,' she said, which hurt, but then to be honest Link didn't even know who he really was anymore. 'But clearly you're not in any state to be fighting.'
That was just the thing, he suddenly realised. Aside from killing a friend, he was worried- scared, even –that Ganondorf might sway him back to his cause. Link was pretty sure it wouldn't be that hard, seeing as hatred and resentment didn't exactly disappear overnight, and he could see himself going, he really could. He didn't want to be evil, but there was so much anger, so much grief, inside him- lifetimes' worth -that he could see how easy it would be to bring him back onto Ganondorf's side.
He, haltingly, told Midna as much, staring at his feet all the while because he didn't want to see her expression, though he looked up when she gave a long sigh.
'I think resenting your lot in life is a perfectly natural thing, Link,' she said, folding her arms. 'And I'm pretty sure everything you just said is a pretty good indicator that you're not about to join Ganondorf again. If you're aware of it you can overcome it; you'll know everything he says is just him manipulating you, using your feelings in his favour.'
Link mulled that over for a moment. Would Ganondorf really manipulate him, though? Closing his eyes he thought back, sifting through the memories he had regained. As far as he had recalled they had been good friends, and Zant's jealousy back in the Twilight Realm had shown Ganondorf's favour towards Link.
But it was Ganondorf. Manipulation was his middle name. He was smart, he was powerful. Link knew him, albeit in a different way that Ganondorf knew him in this lifetime.
'Link, we've all done things we regret,' Midna continued as the silence crept on, 'and, yes, some of us might have done worse things than others, but that doesn't mean we're beyond redemption. The fact that you feel so much grief and guilt is because you can see what you've done wrong, right? So that means you know what the right thing is as well. All you need now is to have courage and do it.'
Link looked at her in silence, nearly laughing at the irony of her words as he rubbed the back of his left hand, where the mark of the Triforce lay. It was prickling, he suddenly realised, so he rubbed a little harder. Have courage, Midna said? Well, if there was anyone who had courage in dark times it was him, wasn't it?
'I believe in you, Link,' Midna said quietly, smiling ruefully when he blinked at her, startled. He hadn't been expecting that. 'I know you'll do the right thing, so have courage.' She vanished before he could say anything, leaving him alone on the stairwell. Putting a hand to the nearest cold wall Link took a deep, steadying breath before he walked on, taking everything just one step at a time.
His pace was slow, reluctant, but all the same the top of the stairs came much too soon. The great, barred doors gave way with a clank and a creak, opening to reveal a high balcony framed by a dark, stormy clouds. There was a colossal boom of thunder just as Link stepped through the doors, as if the heavens were sounding a death knell for him.
Bracing himself against the fierce winds that screamed by Link lifted a hand to shield his eyes from the rain, squinting up at the sky, which every so often was lit by a blinding flash of lightning. He watched as each fork arced out over the dark clouds, illuminating them in strange, ethereal ways. Thunder rumbled again, prompting him to keep moving.
So keep moving he did, moving further out onto the balcony. He peered over the edge briefly, the ground a sickeningly long way below, before turning to face the two fat staircases that framed the doors he had just walked through. Beyond them he could see another, shorter stairway, and beyond that a massive opening, the ceiling of which he could just about make out from the angle he stood at. What he could make out of it was just the same as the rest of the castle; elaborate, stone, too large for any one person to own or make use of.
Brushing rain out of his eyes Link fought to quell the sudden surge of panic that overtook him, feeling his heart start racing all over again as his nose and eyes prickled faintly. He didn't want to do this.
He curled his hands into fists, letting his nails bite into his palms, and started up the first set of stairs. Each one felt harder to climb than the last but he persevered, glad that he could pretend it was just the cold making him shake.
Link had just reached the foot of the second staircase when he felt a surge of power from the room above, swiftly followed by several shrieks as a number of bodies came flying down the stairs. Startled Link watched as they all clattered to a halt, in various degrees of hurt, armour glowing in each flicker of lightning.
Soldiers. Zelda's soldiers? Hadn't Ganondorf thrown them all out? That's what Telma had said, right?
Well, Link certainly hadn't expected that. He'd have thought they'd all have scarpered, especially if they'd heard that Ganondorf had been seen in the castle. But apparently some of them deserved a little more credit, even if they did look like they were being soundly beaten.
A couple of them lay groaning, though Link ignored them as he picked his way up the stairs, glad for a distraction from his impending doom. A few of the other fallen soldiers were still, limbs bent at awkward angles, though as far as Link could tell all of them were breathing. Some of them perhaps not for much longer.
At the top of the second set of stairs he found a few more battered guards, who were stood or sat staring into the room beyond. Link walked up beside them, following their angry gazes.
It was the throne room, he realised, complete with the usual vaulted ceiling, more pillars than were necessary, and a massive, crumbling depiction of the goddesses on the far wall. They were curled around a stone Triforce, their heads missing as they loomed above a single, uncomfortable looking seat. The throne. Another strip of deep blue carpet ran all the way along the length of the room, stopping at the feet of the person sat upon Hyrule's most important seat.
And there he was. Sat with his elbows on his knees, the sage's sword resting beside him, more regal and more threatening than Zant could have ever been.
Ganondorf.
