Izzy: Hello again, everybody!
Oni: And what took so long this time?
Izzy: My beta was catching up on editing, so I paused for a while to type up my other chapters! So close to finishing this!
Scrubs: Just start the story already!
Izzy: Summary! Mystia and company have made it inside the Spirit Temple...with a little help.
Femur: Hate Mabel!
Izzy: Now, what will they find? Will they get the Stone of the Forest? What dangers will they encounter? Let's find out!
Disclaimer: OC claim...nothing more...
Inside the Spirit temple was a set of stairs leading up to a floor slightly above. On either side of the room were two doors. One was small enough for a kid to crawl through and the other opened to a huge hall. Two statues stood on either side of the center of the room. They appeared like pigs with horns coming from their heads. The atmosphere was calming, yet edgy as if something unexpected would happen.
Mystia, Scrubs and Femur walked up the stairs and glanced at their surroundings.
"So," Mystia spoke, "it looks like we have only one way to go—"
Suddenly, a square flat tile from the ceiling floated down to the floor.
"Whoa!" Scrubs exclaimed.
I guess there are two ways, Caspen confirmed.
"Oh!" Mystia responded to the phenomena. "That appears more convenient. Let's check it out!"
"Should we?" Femur asked with worry. "I mean, is it possible that it could be a trap?"
"If it is, we can take care of it!" Scrubs declared. "We are warriors!"
"You two are, but not me," the Stalfos corrected.
"But don't you remember killing all those—" the Deku started.
"Scrubs!" Mystia quickly interrupted. "Femur doesn't need to know what he did."
"Know what?" Femur spoke sickly.
"But—" Scrubs tried to speak.
"Trust me," the deity said as she glared at the Deku. "He doesn't need or want to know."
"Okay?" the little shrub replied, confused.
"Oh, dear!" Femur mumbled to himself as he began to feel nauseous.
"Let's try it out anyway," Mystia stated as she picked up Scrubs and headed toward the floating tile.
The deity and the Stalfos leaped onto the platform when it landed on the ground. Then it rose up through the hole in the ceiling and stopped in a small hallway.
"That was somewhat exhilarating," Femur said.
The group walked down the few steps before them and walked down the hallway, turned left, then left again, then right. They found themselves before a large door and went through it.
The door closed behind them and they stood in awe of the giant room they were in. Another large female statue similar to the one outside sat cross-legged before them. But it did not have a face; instead, the group saw a gated door where its face should have been.
"Could that be the way in?" Scrubs asked aloud.
Sure is, Caspen confirmed. Look in the cove!
Mystia looked at the gate and saw a dark cloud fly through it..
What was that? Mystia wondered.
"If that is the way in, then how do we get up there?" Femur asked.
"Let's find a way up," Mystia announced.
The group walked around the room to find a way to get close to the gate. Mystia spotted a rock wall that was low enough for her to reach with ease. She motioned to the others to follow her, then leaped up and grabbed the edge of the wall. The deity girl pulled herself up and turned to her comrades. She reached down to grab Scrubs and lifted him onto the wall and then pulled Femur carefully by the arms to the top.
The trio went up the flight of stairs and reached its topmost step.
"Look up there, Mystia!" Scrubs exclaimed. "I see something!"
A giant, short pillar suspended by chains hovered above them, and was leveled with the gated door in the statue's face.
"Yes!" Mystia commented, "but how to get up there now?"
"Maybe I can help," Femur said as he reached into his pouch and pulled out a rope. "If we had a hook to attach this to, then we could throw it up there to catch the chains and pull ourselves up."
"Good thinking, Femur!" Mystia said with a smile.
The giant girl pulled from her magic pouch the old grappling hook that Natasha gave her.
"Hand me the rope," she commanded Femur.
The Stalfos obeyed and Mystia took the thick twine and tied it to the hook.
"Femur, you might want to duck," she informed her skeleton friend.
"I'll do better than that," he told her as he laid himself down on the ground and covered his head.
Mystia began swinging the grappling hook above her head. After gaining enough momentum, she released it upwards toward one of the chains. It wrapped around the chain and few times and latched on. The young warrior pulled the rope taut to assure its being secure.
"I'll go first," she told her group.
Wrapping her arms and legs around the rope, the deity pulled herself upward. Halfway up, she felt beads of sweat form on her brow from the strain. Her fingers felt raw and her arms and legs started to wear out. With every ounce of strength left, she heaved herself onto the hanging pillar.
"Femur!" she called down. "Have Scrubs get on your back and you climb up! I'll keep it steady!"
She watched from above as Scrubs got on Femur's back and the Stalfos grabbed the rope to begin his climb.
"By my phalanges, my friend," she heard Femur say to Scrubs. "You're heavier than you look!"
"Great to know..." the Deku grumbled.
It's all those nuts he's been eating, Caspen chuckled.
With almost no effort, Femur quickly climbed to the top. Mystia pulled him up while Scrubs hopped off and onto the pillar. The girl untangled the hook and looked at the gate in front of them.
"Still too far for a jump there," Femur pointed out.
"Maybe my hookshot will do the trick," Mystia thought out loud.
She placed the grappling hook inside her pouch and pulled out the hookshot. She picked up Scrubs and placed him on her back and held Femur's hand while aiming at the gate with her weapon. She pulled the trigger and the hook grabbed the gate, which then pulled them toward it. When they landed in front of it, the gate rose up and revealed a small hallway with a large door.
Mystia approached the door and opened it to walk inside.
They entered a wide, long hallway. A red carpet as long as the hallway ran in the center of it.
"I wonder what's on the other side of that door?" Mystia asked.
"Your fate, young warrior!" a sinister voice announced.
Suddenly, black smoke formed at the doorway before them. It grew and then exploded outward and revealed a shadow figure with lava-flowing hair and beady red eyes. The devious smile showed pointed teeth; and the ruby stone in the middle of her forehead glistened with beauty.
"Nightus!" Mystia fumed.
The shadow woman chuckled with amusement.
"Nice to see you again, Oni Mystia," Nightus said in a cold, wicked tone. "It's been a while since last we met...and will be your last."
"Why are you here?" Mystia demanded.
"That would be my question to you," the shadow grinned, "except I already know what it is. Looking for this?"
The lady of the night held out her hand with her palm up. Appearing in her hand in a puff of smoke was an emerald stone with a gold band curling on it.
"The Stone of the Forest!" Femur exclaimed.
"Why you...you...creepy lady!" Scrubs shrilled. "You stole that from the Deku Tree!"
"That doesn't belong to you, Nightus!" Mystia growled. "Hand it over!"
Nightus grinned.
"If you want it so badly, warrior," the black shadow spoke wickedly, "then come and get it...alone."
The shadow dissipated into a black cloud and vanished behind the door.
"I don't think that's a good idea, miss," Femur said worriedly.
"It could be a trap," Scrubs shivered. "Please don't go in there."
We have to get that stone! Caspen reminded Mystia. We're so close to freedom! We can't stop now because of some female shadow creepiness!
"Don't worry," Mystia said to her companions with determination. "I'll be careful. You just wait here."
"We'll wait here for ya, miss," Femur nodded and patted Scrubs' head.
The deity girl returned the nod, then turned to the door and went in. She found herself in a small hallway lit with torches. The door on the other side was her only other way to Nightus, so she went through.
She came upon an enormous room with a very high ceiling. Four square pillars stood around a much larger pillar. On all sides of all five pillars were rock walls for her to use to get on top. She went for the enormous pillar and climbed to the top. Its large stone platform was mostly covered by an elegant, red rug.
Standing in the middle of it was Nightus with her back towards Mystia. The warrior pulled out her blade and shield and watched the shadow woman carefully.
"A wise decision," the woman said with a chuckle. "Now, your life is doomed."
Suddenly, a tall, red force field wall formed all around the large pillar.
"What in Farore?" Mystia inquired with confusion.
The shadow turned to her. Her ruby eyes gleamed in success and her lips curled into a wicked grin.
"Did you really think I was going to let you get all the stones and keep them for yourself?" Nightus said as if she was talking to a child. "Foolish girl!"
Mystia, Caspen spoke up in realization. She tricked you!
Mystia then realized something herself.
"You knew about this," Mystia said as she began to fit the pieces together. "You knew I was after the stones all along, so you used me to get the stones for you!"
"Very good, Oni Mystia!" Nightus congratulated her with three claps of her hands. "You finally figured it out! And now, thanks to you, I can get these stones to the king. You have been quite helpful. You saved me the hassle of getting them myself."
Mystia growled.
"You won't win, Nightus!" she snapped at the lady of the night. "I won't let you."
"It's too late now, deity child," Nightus declared. "You have lost already. There's no escaping your fate now."
The shadow woman raised her hands and two swords appeared in them. They were scimitars that were similar to the ones that Natasha possessed.
"Gerudo females seem to know their weapons pretty well, don't they?" the woman smirked. "They're powerful and lethal."
She crossed them in front of her then scratched them together just before she pulled them apart.
"A perfect set of weapons to destroy a powerful being like you," she continued. "Today, you breathe your last...deity..."
"Not on your life, Nightus," Mystia replied while holding her own weapon up to accept the challenge.
The shadow raised one scimitar behind her head and pointed the other at Mystia. The girl positioned the Double Helix Sword in front of her and raised her shield in defense.
The shadow woman was the first to make a move. She leaped in the air towards and sliced her curved sword downward upon Mystia. The deity deflected her blow with her shield. But the moment the scimitar made contact, the shield glowed with an intense energy that immediately exploded outward. The energy in the shield blew the woman back with such a great force that it sent her flying across the floor. Mystia ran toward her with a cry and swung her sword to the left with an attempt to slash Nightus, but the dark woman shifted to smoke and whipped around her quickly. She returned to her form and grinned.
"This is getting too easy for you," the lady of night said with a mischievous gleam in her eyes. "Let's see what happens when your vision is clouded in darkness."
Nightus flew up and began to spin. Dark violet beams shot out towards the lit torches around the room. They blacked out and left Mystia in the dark.
Does she really think that would slow us down? Caspen stated incredulously.
Mystia smirked and focused her energy into light. The giant deity's glow was brighter than ever. She observed the room carefully for Nightus who was now hidden among the shadows.
She heard movement behind her. She waited for a few seconds before spinning around and swinging her sword. The white energy beams shot out and slammed into the dark. She heard Nightus scream in pain and then a growl.
"You're too clever for you own good," the shadow female hissed. "Now it's over!"
Nightus swooped in from the darkness into Mystia's light. All the deity saw were the ruby eyes, the ruby stone just above the middle of the red eyes, and the white, sharp teeth which bared at her angrily. She held up the shield to protect herself from the invisible scimitars that attacked her.
Then she did a downward slash toward the shadow, but Nightus defended herself by crossing her scimitars like a shield. The female swung her blades as well, but Mystia deflected them with her own sword as well.
On and on they went: shadow and light, scimitar to white steel. Mystia started to feel worn down from it all.
I don't know how much longer I can take this, she thought.
You want me to take over? Caspen asked.
Mystia tried to think of other possibilities, but she had none. She knew, though, that she could trust Caspen. He did it before and returned her body to her. Why not now?
Go ahead, she replied, but give me a moment to get some space.
I'll wait, Caspen told her.
Mystia could feel the wind from Nightus' fast-moving blade as it nearly nicked her face. But she leaped out of the way and stood there listening for Nightus.
Now! She shouted to Caspen.
She suddenly felt the separation from her body and spirit as Caspen replaced her with himself. Now within her own mind, she observed from Caspen's narrow and angry eyes.
"Come out, shadow freak!" Caspen shouted in his voice. "Let's end this!"
Nightus laughed.
"What happened to your voice, deity child?" she chuckled. "You sound like a man all of the sudden."
"That's because I'm Oni the Warrior God," Caspen responded, "the spirit that lives within her. Now come out and give us a real fight!"
Oni the Warrior God, Mystia thought. Been a while since I heard that one.
Nightus walked out from the shadows. Her face appeared amused by the change of the situation.
"Spirit of the Warrior God, hmm?" she smirked. "So, she doesn't actually own all those abilities. She's then nothing but a simple mortal carrying a spirit who claims himself to be a god. HA! You are no god compared to the Dark King! He's much more powerful than you!"
"Darkness can't rule the light ," Caspen declared. "The light will always overcome the likes of you!"
"If that's what you think, warrior god," the shadow glared. "I will prove you wrong!"
She rushed to Caspen with her swords raised in attack. Caspen leaped high into the air as if it were nothing and dodged the weapons. While in the air, he did a flip and spin to get himself behind the shadow woman.
She had just turned when he raised his sword to chop her body in half with an outward swing. She stepped backwards, but it wasn't enough to avoid the white beams that came out and slam into her. With her hair flying madly around her head, she uttered a cry of anger as she got back on her feet. She charged again and leaped into the air to get her victim.
Caspen jumped to the side, threw himself into a forward roll and propelled him into the air while spinning his sword all around him. It slashed the shadow's back and knocked her down on the ground. She dropped her weapons in the process and the deity kicked them out of the way. He pointed his weapon at Nightus.
"It's over, dark shadow," he told her.
Nightus smiled deviously, and then vanished into smoke. It whipped quickly toward the weapons and gathered them inside the dark cloud. Then it swiftly flew towards Caspen who had no idea how to defend himself.
Caspen, Mystia called out. Try the whirlwind attack!
Caspen nodded and started to spin. Faster and faster he went until a whirlwind of light and energy surrounded him entirely.
The dark cloud tried to pull away from the suction generated from the whirlwind attack, but there was no escaping from it. Nightus shrieked as the energy began to do its damage when she was drawn into the whirling twister.
Caspen leaped out and slammed the tornado with his sword, which sent it to the red force field wall. The whirl exploded in light and all that was left of it was Nightus herself on her hands and knees and gasping for air. Her lava hair hung down lifeless and her body was splotched with white scars from the beams. Caspen approached her again and held out his sword at the shadow's neck.
"I don't think you heard me clearly," he said sarcastically. "I said, 'it's over!'"
The female looked up angrily with her red ruby eyes glaring with hatred.
"This won't be over..." she hissed through her teeth painfully. "I will not...be defeated...by a wretched...giant brat..."
She stopped as she grabbed her head in pain.
"No! Stop it!" she shouted. "I demand it! Silence!"
What is wrong with this picture? Mystia heard Caspen think.
The girl watched as Nightus groaned even more while holding her hand over the middle of her forehead. Then, she realized something.
Caspen! That's it! She called out. The ruby on her forehead! That must be her weak spot! Just like Gometh!
Good thinking, Caspen complimented.
Nightus stood up and released her forehead. She looked lightheaded.
Caspen, destroy the ruby! Mystia shouted.
Wow, you are just as bad as I am with you, Caspen mentioned.
Do it! Mystia said, frustrated.
Caspen raised his sword. Nightus was in so much shock that she didn't realize until it was too late that the diety had slammed the blade of his sword into the jeweled stone within her forehead. The gem shattered on contact.
Nightus screamed at the top of her lungs as she held her head in pain. Then, before Caspen's and Mystia's eyes, the woman was surrounded by the smoke again only it started at her feet and swirled around her. The cloud rose up and disappeared. Left behind was another figure who fell on her knees in heavy breaths.
I think she's harmless enough, Caspen informed Mystia.
Suddenly, Mystia felt herself return to her body once again. She then felt her weary body and her fast-beating heart. She felt her lungs return to her as she gave a sigh of relief. Tired and worn from battle, she collapsed onto the ground in exhaustion.
She woke up to the sound of chatter from above her. When she opened her eyes, she saw Femur and Scrubs right above her.
"She's alive!" Scrubs shouted.
"Oh, thank goodness, miss!" Femur spoke with relief. "Are you alright?"
Mystia! She heard Caspen say. Are you okay? When you fainted, I got worried for a moment.
Mystia groaned and held her head as she sat up. When she looked around, she noticed that they weren't in the battle room where she fought Nightus, but outside of the desert temple. It felt slightly chilly from the night air.
"How...How did we get here?" Mystia asked weakly.
"Thankfully, your friends were nearby to help me out," said a deep, feminine voice.
Mystia looked up to find a woman with her hands on her hips. Mystia noticed that she looked similar to Natasha except her outfit was pink, her hair was deep, red and hung around her face, and her eyes were a liquid gold.
"I figured from your exhaustion, you needed some fresh air," the female continued, "so I had your Stalfos friend here help me carry you out."
"Thank you," Mystia replied as she finally started coming back to her senses. She did remember seeing this woman inside the temple after the defeat of Nightus the Dark Shadow. In fact, remembering more now, she was Nightus the Dark Shadow.
"No, thank you," the woman replied. "You did save my life back there."
The deity girl stood up and brushed herself off, then held out her hand to the Gerudo.
"My name is Oni Mystia," she told the woman.
"Nabooru of the Gerudo tribe," the female responded while placing a fist on her chest. "I am the former lone wolf thief."
Mystia's eyes widened in surprise as she lowered her hand down.
"You're Nabooru!?" she exclaimed.
The Gerudo nodded.
"Then...how did you end up as Nightus?" the deity asked.
"It was because of that horrible, terrible pig tyrant, Ganondorf," she responded with a growl. "He made me like that to get information out of me and use me for his terrible scheme!"
"WHO?!" everyone exclaimed.
"You act as if you have never heard his name before," the Gerudo said curiously. "He's the Dark King that rules this land; however, he doesn't deserve the throne. It was never his to begin with."
Mystia's eyes widened. She knew that name too well! She had heard it before! Suddenly, she heard a voice as if she heard it yesterday:
YOU HEAR ME? I WILL BE VICTORIOUS! I AM GANONDORF, LORD OF THE GERUDOS, KING OF THE WORLD! I WILL FUFILL MY REVENGE!
Caspen! Mystia thought to the deity within her. I know him! I've seen him!
Memories that she thought didn't exist appeared in her mind. A faint image of a woman humming her to sleep. The banging and screams far away from her. A frightening skeletal face. Then, the image of the dark man came to her mind. The dark red hair, the dark skin, the devilish smile and, worst of all, the terrible, cold, evil eyes. It was vivid, but she could see it enough to know who it was.
"I have heard of him," Mystia whispered in horror.
Scrubs looked up in curiosity. "You have?"
"Back in my village, we've heard stories about him," Mystia continued. "But...but I've also seen him...in my dreams. I've heard his voice...I've seen his face..."
The image of the man came back and she matched the voice she heard to the movements of his mouth.
How unfortunate that your own life would come to this! You're own little world crumbling before your very eyes. And you are only so innocent to everything around you. It's a shame you won't live long but...at least my revenge will be complete!
Revenge? Caspen inquired curiously. What revenge? What have you ever done to him?
Still trying to shake off her fear, Mystia only replied, I don't know. I just don't know!
"Mystia?" Scrubs asked while tugging on the warrior's white tunic in worry. "Are you okay?"
The deity girl looked down at the Deku.
"This man...I know him somehow," she said to him, "...but I don't know how."
"Has he attacked your village?" Nabooru asked.
"No, but his servant, Ashasti, has," the deity replied in a daze. She still couldn't get over the fresh memories that have recently surfaced in her mind.
"Miss Nabooru," Femur spoke up, "what information was it that he wanted from you exactly?"
"Well, it was about..." the Gerudo started, but then she paused in horror. "Oh no! What have I done!"
Mystia, now distracted from her memories by Nabooru's exclamation, turned her attention to the lone wolf thief.
"What's wrong?" she asked the Gerudo woman.
"We don't have time to waste!" Nabooru informed her as she headed eastward toward the wastelands. "We have to get back to the Kokiri Forest and fast!"
"What do you mean?!" Scrubs asked with a shout.
"Why the Kokiri Forest?!" Femur also exclaimed in question.
Why the Kokiri Forest? Mystia wondered.
Then, Mystia remembered and horror filled her heart.
"Oh no! Zelda!" she shouted. "The Dark King knows where she is! She's in trouble! "
Izzy: OH NO! The Queen's in trouble.
All except Oni: GASP!
Femur: Ohhhh...the poor queen!
Oni: What about the Stone of the Forest!?
Izzy: Yes, my dear readers! Nightus is really Nabooru and she has informed our dear companions about what could possibly be the most horrible tragedy yet! The Queen's life is in danger! Will Mystia and her friends make it to the base in time? Will the Queen be safe? Find out next chapter!
Scrubs: I hate cliff hangers!
Oni: Great idea! I'll hang the Deku off a cliff!
Scrubs: AHHH!
Roecliff: R&R people!