Chapter 53 – Dark to Light
"Do you know about this!?" Zeel demanded, grabbing Ark by the front of his shirt. He shook his head desperately.
"N-no!" he squeaked. Zeel dropped him.
"It must be that accursed fairy," the black-haired girl growled. "She must have found a way to locate him." After a brief moment of thought, Zeel turned to the demon. "You! Take him to his room and keep him there while I find out what's going on. Don't let anything happen to him, got it?" The demon-girl saluted mockingly and picked Ark up off the floor.
"Anything else, Majesty?" she smirked. Zeel gave her a look that indicated she meant business, prompting the demon-girl to turn on her heel and head for the door with Ark.
Link tore down the stairway leading from the attic with the Triforce mark on his hand sending out particles of light and glowing like a tiny sun. Zelda was calling him through the gold triangle that had appeared in the sky and he didn't know how much longer it would be there for, so time was of the essence. The only problem was getting past Zeel and the demon in order to get Ark safely out of the manor. Link grinned and popped his knuckles. He had an excuse to smack them around a little- nothing serious of course, but enough to give him enough time to get away with Ark.
"All right! Let's go!" he laughed. The Key came to life, whipping the straps about the hallway like an extra set of appendages that sped his movement through the manor. He practically knocked the doors of their hinges with a typhoon of metal rings and the straps, sliding around corners and leaping down stairwells. It was the first time that Link actually realized he enjoyed using the Key. It was like an extension of his own body -moving at his mental command. It was an extremely useful tool to have at his disposal- in fact he probably wouldn't be alive if it weren't for the Key. Link burst open another door and practically flew down another flight of stairs, skidding at the bottom and shooting off down another hallway, the Key's straps whipping around the corner after him. Zeel was in for a surprise.
Ark was shoved out into the hall outside Zeel's room by the demon-girl before Zeel emerged close behind them. The black-haired girl japed her finger threateningly at the demon.
"Now you stay with Ark. Don't let him out of your sight! I'm positive this is the doing of one of his-"
"Hey Zeel!" The shout echoed loudly down the corridor, catching the attention of all three people. Link was standing some distance down the corridor with his hands on his hips and the Key's straps flapping gently as if blowing in an unfelt breeze. It took Zeel a few seconds to digest the fact that he was actually there. She stared at him stupidly for a number of seconds before her lips twisted into an enraged snarl.
"You!" she roared. "What are you doing here!? You did all this!"
"Ha-ha! Charade you are, Zeel! I've been here all along- I bet you didn't realize you brought along an extra passenger," he smirked. Getting her angry could prove to work to his advantage. If she got careless, then he'd be able to get her out of the way much faster. "But I must say; your hospitality has been most superb. Free run of your kitchen, comfortable lodging and an endless supply of books to read." He could almost see steam coming out of her ears.
"How…dare…you!" she grated, stamping one foot towards him. "You dare infiltrate my home? My home? This time I'm getting rid of you for good!"
"What's the matter Zeel? A little too preoccupied with tormenting helpless Ark not notice me sneaking around? You must be feeling pretty stupid right now," Link smirked.
"I'll tear you limb from limb!" she screeched, holding her hands out like claws. Link held up his dark arm and waved it at her.
"Hah! You couldn't even get that right the first time!" he laughed. The demon girl snorted and then bit her lip to hold in laughter. Zeel gave her a brief, annoyed glance before turning back to Link.
"I'll cut you to ribbons," she growled. "You're on your own in this fight."
"Well then come and get me, you almighty shrew." With an enraged shriek, Zeel charged towards him, phasing her scythe into her hand as she did so. But before she got even remotely close to Link, the ring-tipped straps of the Key shot out towards her through the air like twin arrows. They struck her in the middle and immediately halted her progress. She blinked and Link grinned at her before the straps twisted slowly around each other and suddenly pushed her back down the hall like some kind of quick-growing vine. With a strangled cry, she shot past Ark and the demon girl before crashing through the wall at the end of the hall. The straps then spiraled and reeled themselves in until they hung back at their usual lengths down Link's back. The demon-girl peered back to where Zeel's legs were visible sticking out from a pile of splintered wood that used to be a portion of the wall. Then, at the sound of a metallic clinking noise, she whipped her head back around only see the metal rings whizzing straight at her. With a yelp of surprise, the demon-girl was struck in the stomach and lifted straight up. She skittered backwards along the ceiling until striking the wall solidly and sliding down into a crumpled heap near Zeel.
"A-are they all right…?" Ark stammered.
"They're fine," Link interrupted with a wave of his hand. "But we want to be far, far away from here by the time they get their senses together or I'm going to be in a lot of trouble. Let's go!"
Zelda and the others stood on the deck of the ship and gazed at the large, golden triangle in that air with awe. The glow from the mark on Zelda's hand continued to pulsate out towards it, keeping the triangle sustained.
"Florella…what's happening?" Talen asked. Florella shook her head.
"I…I don't know," she replied with a slow shake of her head. "Zelda's Triforce piece…it must be reacting to Link's somehow. Zelda's will to bring Link back must have been strong enough for the Triforce pieces they hold to call to each other through the wall of Zeel's realm. I just hope Link can get out with Ark."
"He will if he knows what's good for him," Fura growled. The Gerudo ran up to the railing next to Zelda and cupped her hands around her mouth. "Link! You'd better come back as fast as you can or we'll never forgive you! Do you hear me!?" Her shout echoed out across the water. "Get your legs moving or I'll never ever kiss you again!"
The front door of the manor burst outwards in a shower of splintered wood. Seconds later, Link, followed closely by Ark, came running out onto the grass outside. As they neared the gate, Link motioned for Ark to get on his back before he catapulted both of them clear over the metal barrier and onto the ground on the other side. The light from the golden triangle coupled with Link's glowing hand made it easy to see, but it also meant that Zeel and the demon could find them very easily. Their only hope was speed. Ark could feel the blood pumping in his ears as he ran towards the cliff through the sparse dotting of trees. Link was a short distance ahead of him, but despite the blonde boy's superior athletic ability, Ark was able to keep up because of the adrenalin running through him at the thought of escaping the manor and seeing his companions again- more specifically; Nyara. Suddenly, there came a cry of rage from somewhere behind them. Zeel had obviously started giving chase and she was none too happy about it; judging by the amount of cursing that could be heard.
"Hurry Ark!" Link called over his shoulder. "We don't have far to go!" Then, as if the punctuate his sentence, the two boys broke through the trees and stood at the edge of the cliff. The golden triangle shone brightly some distance out from the edge and its light mingled with that of the mark on Link's hand. Then, as if a door were opening, the center of the triangle cleared to show a large ship on an ocean. There were a number of very familiar figures standing on the deck.
"Look!" Ark cried excitedly. "I can see them! Miss Nyara!" They saw the Bloodcat's ears prick up and she began to wave desperately, signaling that she too could see the boys.
"Seeing them is one thing, getting to them is another," Link frowned, glancing from the triangle in the sky to the fringe of trees behind them. "We'll have to keep going out along that path down there. If we can climb up to the top of that island out there, then we'll be able to reach it." Ark looked out to where the golden triangle floated above a reasonably-sized island that consisted of little more than a narrow, flat portion of ground around its perimeter, and a towering mass of rock that plateaued out at the top. Wasting no more time, Link and Ark descended the narrow path down the face of the cliff before breaking into a run out along the Seaway.
The water almost seemed to be rougher than before, washing over the sides of the rock path and fawning at their feet like dogs at a bone. Ark pushed back his fear of the cold, dark depths that awaited him should he loose balance, focusing instead on the thought of getting out of the dark realm and making it back to where the sun shone and where Nyara could fuss over him once again.
"Are you all right?" Link called over his shoulder.
"I-I'm managing," Ark replied over a rumble of thunder. "We-"
"Stop this instant!" The voice cut through the wind and sloshing of water like a knife, surprising the two boys. Zeel was not far behind, running as fast as she could with her scythe held in both hands. Her face was a mask of fury, though it seemed to be directed at the one who dared take Ark back. Link.
"Uh-oh," the blonde boy gulped. "Ark! Run faster!"
"I'm trying!" Ark cried in panic.
"I'll gut you!" Zeel was ranting. "I'll slice your belly open and feed your intestines to the fish! How dare you enter my realm and take what belongs to me! You won't live to see another day, Blondie!" She looked terrifying. Her eyes almost seemed to give off a light of their own, filled with a terrible, blazing fury directed at Link and a kind of voracious hunger that appeared to be directed at Ark.
"Come on, Ark! We're getting closer!" Link shouted desperately. The triangular gateway loomed ahead of them, but first they had to climb a rather large outcropping of rock that rose from the island like a small mountain. Zeel would have the distinct advantage with her ability to fly, and Link couldn't tell if the demon girl was sneaking up on them from another direction or if she was still at the manor. There was suddenly the sound of an explosion. Link whipped his head around and saw Ark lose his balance and fall towards the dark water. Zeel had thrown one of her purple energy balls at his feet to knock him off balance, but Link wasn't about to let her win that easily. As Zeel dove towards the falling Ark, Link snatched victory out from under her nose. The twin straps of the Key whipped out and coiled around Ark's waist, yanking him away as Zeel slammed onto the path after missing her quarry.
"Ark, I'll meet you at the top!" Link called his friend, lifting him up to the top of the small island at blistering speed with the Key. Zeel immediately took to the air and went after the grey-haired boy, but Link coiled the straps beneath him like a spring and leaped straight up to meet her. He slammed into the black-haired girl's midsection before the two of them began a mid-air wrestle.
"Rrgh!" Zeel growled as she and Link began to throttle each other whilst rising towards the top of the island. "You shouldn't interfere with a superior force, Link! You'd have been better off just staying on your world and getting used to not seeing Ark again just like everybody else!" Link suddenly broke Zeel's hands away from his throat and flipped around onto her back as they shot up over the crest of the island.
"Well you shouldn't have bothered coming after Ark in the first place, because I'll stop you at ever turn!" he declared. Zeel made an enraged sound and spun around rapidly, trying to dislodge Link from her back. He was almost thrown off by the force of gravity, but managed to hold on. Zeel suddenly wheeled around in the air and swooped down low, tipping upside-down in order to make Link collide with the ground and hopefully dislodge him. However; Link wound the Key straps around Zeel's middle and pushed her away from himself. The girl smashed into the ground while Link sailed gracefully over her like a pole-vaulter, landing on the ground next to Ark with a small flourish.
The gateway lay before the two boys, floating several metres out from a sheer drop leading down to the churning waters below.
"H-how are you going to make that?" Ark squeaked.
"We jump," Link told him. "Don't worry, I'll help."
"But…" Ark looked decidedly unsure of himself.
"Just think of what's on the other side!" Link said sharply. "It's that…or that." Link motioned to Zeel, who was in the process of swearing like a sailor whilst she picked herself up off the ground a short distance behind them. She was covered in dust and dirt and breathed in heavy gasps as she pulled back her lips into a snarl that showed off her pointed incisors.
"Hurry!" a familiar voice called from the gateway. "Ark hurry!" Nyaragon was shouting ceaselessly, her hands waving in the air to get his attention.
"Miss Nyara! I'm coming!" he shouted back. Zeel took off at a run towards them just as Link and Ark locked arms and dashed towards the gateway. The Key straps coiled into springs, bunched themselves behind the two boys, and then launched them towards the triangular gate. They sailed towards it, out over the ocean below. But Zeel was fast. On the threshold of the gateway, she caught Ark under his arms after leaping after him. Link lost his grip on the grey-haired boy and shot through into the sunlight, but at the last minute he lashed out the Key's straps and wound them around one of Ark's ankles. He hung there; dangling above the sea, held aloft by Zeel as she held onto Ark with an unbreakable grip.
"No!" Saria cried as Link hung down from the gateway. "So close! We have to do something!" But Florella was already acting. The fairy girl leaped over the railing of the ship and spread her delicate wings, zipping over to Link and grabbing his arms.
"Florella!" he exclaimed. "Don't let go!"
"Rrgh! I'm trying not to!" she grunted, pulling back with all of her might. Link rose and moved towards the ship as the key's straps went taut between himself and Ark.
"You won't win, fairy!" Zeel spat. "You're not strong enough!" The black-haired girl tugged on Ark, drawing him further back into her realm. Florella and Link began drifting slowly towards the gate.
"Come on, Florella! Move those wings like there's no tomorrow!" Link encouraged her. "You can do it!"
"My…my wings aren't strong enough!" she groaned. "I-I can't…" They gradually mover further and further back towards the gate until Zeel was able to swing one arm down and dug her scythe into the rocky ground of the island's summit.
"You…are not…leaving!" she growled in Ark's ear. "I've worked too hard for my reward and I won't let you cheat me out of it!" There was a hint of desperation in her voice.
"M-miss Zeel," Ark stammered as he was pulled in two different directions. "What could be worth all of this?
"You can't possibly know!" she exclaimed. "This isn't about gold or jewels or money…everything's at stake, and you're the fulcrum on which it's all balanced!" Ark was suddenly yanked out of Zeel's grip by a powerful tug from Florella and Link, who had braced themselves against the rim of the gate. Zeel cursed and swung her legs up, encircling them about Ark's waist.
"Where's that demon!?" Zeel snarled. Her quarry began to slide ever so slightly out of her grasp.
"I'm sorry, Miss Zeel," Ark apologized sincerely. "But everything's at stake for us as well. If there's the slightest chance that I can help lock the Eternal Ark, then I have to take it. Because if whoever is trying to open it actually succeeds, then nobody will be safe…not even you." Zeel stared into Ark's eyes in shock. She could see concern in their deep, green depths. After all she had done to him; he was actually concerned about her. A look of anguish passed over Zeel's eyes before she drew her face right up to his.
"Wh-wha-" he stuttered.
"Fine," she spat, licking her lips. "But know that I will never cease hounding you until I get my reward…or you lock the Ark and destroy the one who would give me what I want." She suddenly opened her mouth wide and sunk her teeth into his neck, draining a significant portion of his energy with an almost animalistic fervor, but she quickly tore herself away. "That's the viewing fee." Then, with a dark scowl, she released her grip and watched as Ark was ripped away and flung through the gate.
Link and Florella gave a sudden jolt and lurched back as Zeel let go. The tension that had built up in the Key's straps was suddenly released, resulting in Ark becoming airborne like a stone thrown from a sling. The grey-haired boy flew towards the ship with a wail, hoping to the Goddesses that he wouldn't hit too hard, or worse; land in the ocean.
"Ark!" The boy looked down and saw Nyaragon standing at the ready. She bunched her legs and launched herself straight up into the air, catching him against her stomach like a ball. Ark collided with a grunt, followed shortly by another as the Bloodcat landed back on-deck. The grey-haired boy let out a sigh of relief. He was back.
"Nyah! Ark!" Nyaragon crowed in delight. She swung him up, her face alight with happiness. "Nyaragon so worried! Nyaragon thought she never see you again!" And then followed the backbreaking hug and the relentless onslaught of licking that threatened to remove several layers of skin from his face. She was near tears as she swung him about, stroking his hair repeatedly with one of her big hands and babbling out all of the worries that had run through her mind during his absence.
"I'm glad to see you too, Miss Nyara," Ark managed to wheeze out as she continued to bind him to her with a powerful grip.
"Ark! Are you all right?" Talen asked, running up to his friend. Ark nodded as Nyaragon reluctantly put him down.
"I'm just a little bit tired," he admitted, touching his fingers to the bite-mark on his neck.
"Zeel hurt Ark!?" Nyaragon demanded. Ark was suddenly lifted up and crushed yet again by a fierce embrace on the Bloodcat's behalf. "Nyaragon sorry! All Nyaragon's fault that Ark got taken!"
"It…gak- all right…Miss Ny- urgh!" Ark managed to choke out. She released her grip slightly, but refused to put him down a second time.
"Well it's good to see that you're still in one piece," Talen grinned, clapping his friend on the back as Nyaragon held him. "Careful Nyara, with your size you could do more damage with a hug than that Zeel could ever do with those teeth of hers."
Florella and Link watched in relief as Nyaragon leaped up and caught Ark.
"Well I'll be…he got away," Link whistled. He suddenly whipped his head around to see if Zeel was preparing to come through the gate in order to go after Ark again, but she was nowhere to be seen. "Hey, where'd she go?"
"Who cares? Just so long as it isn't out here," Florella told him. "Come on; let's get you back to the ship. There are two people very eager to see you." The Great Fairy increased the speed that her wings whirred at and turned back towards the ship, carrying Link by the back of his clothing as he reeled in the Key's straps. Once they got to the ship, Florella dropped him over the railing and onto the deck before landing herself.
"Whew! You're heavy," she breathed. "You obviously didn't starve while you were away." Link grinned at her. Navi fluttered over and jingled around him in excited circles.
"Well Zeel did have this rather fantastic kitchen that never seemed to run out of f-"
"Link!" The loud wail made him flinch, and he turned around just in time to have Zelda leap at him. Desperate hands clutched at his back and his face was assaulted with a barrage of joyful kisses.
"Z-Zelda?" he winced as he tried to get her to stop. "I-"
"I was so worried!" she cried. "Y-you just…weren't there anymore! It was like there was an empty space where you used to be! Oh I'm so relieved!" She buried her face into his top and sighed. All at once she seemed to return to normal. Her hair was bright and shining, her eyes were vivid blue and her skin was back to its normal, pinkish hue and the Princess no longer looked exhausted and frail. Link managed to pry her arms off of him before straightening out his clothes.
"Well it's good to be back again," he said. "Sorry about being gone for so long, I couldn't-"
"Linkie-do Sweet-Cheeks! Did you miss me!?" Fura landed roughly on his back and he pitched forwards, yet was able to keep his balance. "I'm so glad you're back!" The Gerudo wriggled about and managed to plant a big, wet kiss over his lips before encircling her arms about his neck and embracing him fiercely.
"Ack! Fura!" he squawked, flailing about as she began to smear her white lipstick about his face with more relieved kisses. There was a sudden flash from behind them. The gate filled itself in with a brilliant light, becoming a solid gold triangle once more before it shrank and disappeared in a shower of golden sparkles. Link and Zelda both looked down at the marks on their hands as they flickered and then went back to their usual, unobtrusive state.
"What was that?" Link asked the Princess. "I could hear you calling out to me when it appeared in the sky near Zeel's manor. Did you create it? Or was it Florella?"
"It wasn't me," the fairy replied. "I could barely sense you through the veil of her realm. I highly suspect that the two Triforce pieces you hold became tuned to your wishes and opened a door between this world and Zeel's spiritual realm." Link and Fura glanced at each other in confusion.
"I understand," Zelda frowned thoughtfully. "The completed Triforce can make any wish come true, but at the moment it has been split into its three separate pieces. The pieces you and I hold, Link, must have reacted to our strong will so see each other again. Though not powerful enough to instantly whisk you here, it was able to create the means in order for you to get back." She fluttered her eyelashes at him. "You must have missed me an awful lot." Link winced and went a little red.
"Well…of course I missed you. I missed all of you. Even the little piggy," Link said, waving his hand at Florella. She puffed her cheeks out in anger.
"You only just got back and already you're taking hits at me!? Show me some respect! I worried about you day and night! I tried to get you back day and night!" she snapped. "Don't call me piggy! I deserve a name befitting of my status as a Great Fairy!" Link blinked at her.
"The Duchess of Pork?" he suggested.
"Rrgh! You're in fine form after only just getting back!" Florella growled in frustration, tugging at her hair. "Ungrateful swine! See if I ever help you again!" Link closed his eyes and grinned at her before everyone grouped together to welcome the two boys back. Nyaragon plopped the Compass in Ark's hands and patted him on the head.
"Nyaragon keep blue ball safe for Ark. Ark have it back now," she told him.
"Thank you, Miss Nyara," he said awkwardly. Talen clapped both Ark and Link on their backs.
"Thank goodness the two of you are still alive. It isn't any fun being the only boy around," he whispered. Florella chided him lightly for his little remark. The smith grinned at her before turning to Ark. "By the way, how did you get Zeel to let go? By the looks of things she had a hold of you pretty tight."
"Ark shock Zeel!" Nyaragon declared. "Ark show Zeel who is boss!" She lifted him up above her head proudly.
"A-actually," Ark squeaked. "I didn't do anything." There were looks of puzzlement.
"Then how?" Ark scratched his head.
"Well…she let me go."
