Nintendo created all the characters and places and stuff. I just made the story up. The cover was done by Zeliga of DeviantART
Chapter Thirty Eight - The Final Mirror
Another target smashed to smithereens and the flower grew back its petals within a second, even so the cycle started once more, the petals peeling off like old wallpaper. He glanced around for his next target, one hanging high in the branches of a tree and crouched down, pulling the sting of the bow back to his cheek. Suddenly his foot began to feel damp, the petals of the flower died off instantly and the turquoise pallet the area had been coated in had changed to red, along with the blank non blinking eyes of the Guardians, each one raising the heads and seeking out his scent. He glanced down, the tide over the islands had caught up with him, washing over the land and bitten at his foot, he understood this water; he was a foreign object in an untouched world that had no real business in it and needed to be exterminated. He tried to move forward, the water physically clinging onto him trying to keep him in his place as he tried to jump to another island but the water pulled on his leg to bring him further in. He heard the grinding of blades as a Guardian flew effortlessly through a huge tree; its disjointed arms held two swords longer than his legs and a white cape that showed no body underneath. He pulled harder, his foot starting to come out of his boot at this point till suddenly a blade scarred his skin, knocking him out of the gooey yellow-red water and onto an island, he tried to get up, his arms shaking under his weight but fell forward onto his stomach and vanished into nothing but a few twinkling lights.
He reappeared a few moments later back in the safety of the circle with Pippa.
She remained quiet as he gathered his bearings and inspected the absent chunk out of his shoulder.
"The land may be dangerous. But is forgiving beyond compare." she said when Link had pulled a thread out of his tunic
He glanced at her and looked at the flower leaning over his belt, there were fifteen arrowheads now and all fifteen targets were back. He nodded to Pippa and stood up gripping the bow hard before braving the outside. Pippa followed by his side before branching off to take the Guardian's off his scent while he aimed.
The satisfying smash of a target caused the land to calm again.
Now, onto the next one.
Zelda uncorked the fairy and let the pink ball hover around Rosie's cold body. It rested on the hilt of the dagger, the weight of the tiny creature able to make the dagger shudder. It flew up to Tempus and landed on his ear, whispering into it. He nodded.
"We have to pull it out, she can't help her otherwise. If we had other fairies, it would have been fine." Tempus sighed shaking his head, Zelda went as white as a sheet.
"I'm afraid we have to." Cole spoke seeing her face. "I'll help as much as I can."
Zelda walked away from the group as they decided who would pull the dagger out. She did not want to be a part of that decision. She cupped her hands on her chest and bowed her head, her ears listening to the trickling sound of the water at her feet.
"Link, please. If you can hear me come back to us." she whispered, turning her gaze to the dead tree she had last seen him walk through. But no movement from inside the bark happened.
"Link would not let Rosie die. We should have more faith in him." Sky mumbled noticing Zelda's position.
Bells, the final warning before peace in this place ended. His arm was shaky as the string was getting harder and harder to pull back as he aimed for the final target. He had wondered if he was out of practice but he trained frequently with Pippa so it could not be it, sometimes bows tensed up when they had new strings but it was working fine before. He lowered the bow and stared at the hanging target that had taken some hunting down, eventually finding it hidden in the decaying fruit that hung above the circle. Hidden in plain sight, how he had missed it he was unsure, everything was the same colour, he could hardly tell the difference between his tunic and the nearest patch of green leaves. He raised his arm again and tried to pull the string back but could not; it was like it had stuck. Pippa ventured out of the circle upon seeing him struggle and put a hand on his shoulder as he sat in the grass, his folded legs facing her,
She squealed "Your shoes! The knife blades!"
Link gave her a look somewhere between terrified and amazed but fiddled with the blades on his shoes and walked to the tree, Pippa waited below as he swung up the branches like a monkey and withdrew his last arrow when he got close to the swinging target. He brought his arm back and stuck the target so it smashed, spraying what appeared to be glass into his face forcing him to lose his balance and drop on the floor. The flower was renewed and the light from within the circle grew suggesting they return quickly and safely.
They walked together slowly, taking one final look of their surroundings and vanished together once entering.
They reappeared in a forestry looking area with huge trees that had feathers instead of leaves and nests instead of trunks, Link touched one of the trees to feel the texture, it was like they had been weaved by little sparrows and black birds over countless years. A gentle breeze blew a path through the shed feathers like they were snow towards a mirror enshrined within a huge frame and piles of feathers that were taller than them. He began to proceed towards the mirror but a shadow blocked the light from above him, he turned his head to see a branch groaning under the weight of a giant feathered creature, about the size of Sky in his Loftwing form. These must be true Loftwings.
The creature had a thick spoon like beak with a red arrow pointing between the eyes which were as yellow as the sun. The wings were crimson with brown tips but there was fur running along its back, stopping at a feathery tail, the tip of it glowing alight with a deep orange flame. The bird bowed, bringing its great wings in front of it. Pippa remained still but showed her teeth, growling, now back in her canine form.
"I am the Great Fire Bird. A Lofting with the abilities of Fire." it spoke, his voice deep and low like the humming of a blacksmith's furnace. "I welcome you to the Hall of Birds."
Link nodded and bowed, his hat falling off his head as he did so.
"You have done well, young one. Our Lord and Master would be proud." he continued "You have my power in the stone tipped arrows you carry. Please, go further. Claim your prize."
Link nodded once more and started to walk towards the mirror.
"Earth Mage." a voice as sharp as crystal called, another branch groaned on the other side of the tree as an aqua coloured bird the same size and build as the Great Fire Bird pruned sharp wings that looked like they could slice branches with hardly a flick, the branch below its thick white talons was frozen solid ice. "It is an honour and a privilege to finally meet you in person." the tail of the bird glowed with light blue fire as it swung it. "I am the Great Ice Bird. A Loftwing with power over Ice."
Pippa yapped at Link and lifted a paw to where another bird, again, the same size and build, was sitting, but this one was perched between the piles of huge feathers and had yellow fur that was puffed up past the golden sun wings it had. It breathed a sigh, a feminine one.
"Link, we are the Arrow Birds, acting as transport to the Gods and Goddesses since the dawn of time." it said opening its piercing yellow eyes "You have mastered our power within your weapon. But your father's bow will not be enough to destroy the Plague of the Dead. It grows stronger the more souls it takes."
The other two birds dropped from the trees and opened their wings to push Link forward slightly, their wings started to disintegrate upon touching the boy. Their colours heading towards his quiver, decorating it a beautiful purple.
"We will leave this place with you." the bird sighed shaking its feathers and fur to leave the nest. "My arrows were born with the very fabric of life. Something that can never die. I am the Great Light Bird. A Loftwing born of love and kindness."
Link held his heart. Zelda.
"The powers of the Grove are yours to take. When you have what you require, the last bird's gift, you will leave through the doors behind you." the Great Light Bird instructed touching Link with the tips of her wings.
The symbol of the Triforce shone on his quiver.
He turned, now alone in the feather filled place to find a pair of huge stone doors behind him, appearing out of nowhere, but he could not see the stone people from the vision beforehand, perhaps they were on the other side.
He made his way in the other direction towards the mirror. Pippa kept her distance so Link could not see her reflection as he almost ran up to the glass, this was it, this was the last mirror, he had souvenirs from the last mirrors that had been smashed before him and his younger self each one giving him a gift, a spring flower, a summer leaf, an autumn fruit but what now?
His younger self appeared within the mirror in the same blue pyjama's that he had always worn but it looked like he had been crying for some reason, his eyes were puffy and red and he was holding a little blanket tightly in one hand. The other held out offering this time for Link to take it instead of snatching it. Link was unsure about the change in demeanour but lowered himself into a crouch and took the child's hand and waited for yet another vision to begin
The flickering candle of the Kakariko Village home welcomed him, except there were windows shining bright stars in not dusty boards. Baby-Rosie built up a small tower with some wooden blocks wearing pale almost white feet-ee pyjamas while Baby-Link was wearing the blue ones his gaze fixed out of the window into the night. "I wonder where your father is." Malon sighed looking out of the window where Baby-Link was standing by on his chair. "I'm starting to get a little worried." Baby-Link gripped her sleeve and lifted his arms up wanting to be carried. Malon rolled her eyes and lifted her son off the chair and balanced him on her hip "You're getting to be a big boy, you know." she giggled rubbing noses with him. Baby-Link turned his head away and his ears flicked pointing to the stars above as one crossed the sky. Malon looked up with him for a few moments; unaware that her young son's eyes had turned ivy green. A flash of neon green light caused the door to swing on its hinge a few moments later, baby-Link screwed his eyes shut. Malon flinched as a male dressed in a tanned shirt and black trousers with a little cloth cap to match threw himself in the doorway, panting a little. "Ezekiel! Where have you been? I've been worried sick!" Malon squeaked putting Link back on the seat, he seemed somewhat dazed but greeted his father with a welcome smile Ezekiel was holding his arm, the sleeve stained crimson; he turned away so Baby-Link could not see and removed his hand to show a throwing star had imbedded itself in his forearm, the flesh hugging the metal. Malon shrieked and picked Rosie up, who was more content on chewing her sleeve while Baby-Link seemed much more interested in what was going on, his eyes now shining red like his father's. "They found us again." he grimaced as Malon picked Baby-Link up and slotted him under her arm like a cucco. "I managed to get away somehow." he sighed giving a suspicious glance in Baby-Link's direction. Baby-Link smirked. "Wherever you run to we will follow, Ezekiel." Malon whispered, Rosie let out a whimper. "A life on the run? That's not a life I would be comfortable living." Ezekiel mumbled pulling the throwing star out with a grimace "I don't want our children living it either." "No! You can't leave us! I'll get Tempus to help!" Malon shouted putting the children in a cot near the fire. Ezekiel glanced at her for a moment then lowered his head cradling his bleeding arm "You know Tempus isn't allowed near them. The Grove told him so." "He understands everything and knows when to break the rules!" Malon sniffed "But that still means you can't leave!" "Malon, I don't want to. But they will kill you and the children if I stay." Ezekiel said sadly holding Malon's shoulders. "You will have to act as if I'm dead, so will they." "Ezekiel..." Malon said cupping her mouth, her voice quivering with the tears that waterfalled down her cheeks. Ezekiel held a small locket around his neck in his hand and turned to the two children in the cot, picking Rosie up first who yawned in his arms as he carried her into the little bedroom with two hay bale beds in. He rubbed noses with her "Rosie, I'm leaving you the Book of Mudora for when you are old enough to read it. It will help you in the future should you come looking for me." he whispered giving her a kiss on the forehead and gently lying her in her bed, pulling the quilt up to her neck with two fingers. "I'll miss you." He came back for Link who was trying to clamber out of his cot to see Malon, she was facing the window, her back to the boy and her eyes filled with tears. She said nothing. Baby-Link smiled as Ezekiel put him down in his bed, but he refused to lie down. Instead he climbed out and stood at in the doorway of the room, watching his parents exchange a sorrow filled hug before his father headed for the door and vanished. He followed immediately stopping at the swinging door. "Link, come on, it's time for bed." Malon sighed unable to speak loudly for crying, Baby-Link held her hand and nodded. So be it.
"Link, you are a good boy, I'm leaving my bow and quiver for when you get a little older to use them. I trust you will teach yourself well and my arrows will remain true to their targets." Ezekiel spoke staring into his red eyes, the boy cocked his head giving an almost nod and yawned, but when he opened his eyes again they were blue like his mother's. Ezekiel sighed and held the baby aloft like had thrown up on him "You scare me sometimes, you know that? You have to be brave for you mother and sister, you hear me?"
"You were always so accepting, Link." came a voice from the mirror, Link nearly jumped a mile in fright as he came out of the visionary state and into consciousness again. He was no longer holding hands with a child version of himself; he was holding a jet black coloured paw. "Do not fear. I mean you no harm. I am Glint."
Glint gave a bow and shook his thick coat; he was a fully grown Labrador in a seated position, his thick tail wagging behind him. Link held his stance as his gaze travelled to the huge white feathery wings that were sticking out of his sides, the tips fluttering in time with his tail.
"I have been by your side since you were born. I am the one who has kept you silent all these years." Glint admitted "But for you and your sister to survive, I had to do it. You understand?"
Link gave a firm nod but raised an eyebrow as he looked in Pippa's direction.
"I'm sorry about what you saw, truly." Glint sighed flapping his wings "You were very young and to powerful. I had to calm you down; taking little bits of your power each day till you could not use it anymore and forgot about it."
Link lowered his head
"The magic you have is inside you and you have awakened it once more." Glint spoke, the mirror cracking "Continue to watch over him, Pippa. Just as I have."
The mirror smashed pushing Link over onto his back into Pippa's face. She nudged his arm, whining a little. Link smiled and stroked her behind the ears.
Whatever Pippa was, guardian sent down or coincidence they should meet, she was still his best friend.
He opened his hand and smiled, the final gift, a snow flake of winter.
It flew up out of his hand, the other three gifts floating up and joining it creating two objects before him; one for him…the other for Rosie.
He beamed and held his arms up to receive them.
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I swear the weeks are getting faster, it feels like yesterday when I last uploaded. So, that answers a few questions? Ezekiel left in quite a hurry didn't he? And he knew about Link's power...didn't he? He had always known. Also, that answers another question from chapters back doesn't it? How did Link and Rosie hide their red eyes? It was magic. Link's magic. Malon trusted Tempus, I wonder if she called on him at all after Ezekiel left. Not much of a goodbye was it? Although, the hello wasn't much better, what did Link do when Malon's back was turned? He's a smart baby. Two more questions, actually no, three, Glint, he knows Pippa and he's the one that's made Link silent...does that mean that Link can talk? Why does Glint take a form of child Link and why does Pippa keep away from the mirror?