With this chapter, I feel as if there's going to be a rather large escalation of the situation. Welcome, one and all, back to Warrior of the Wild. If you're looking for a tale of souls, magic and machinery, you've come to the right chapter. Anyway, let's go!
Super hero time!
Zelda: Take your battle stations! The war against Ganondorf has begun anew! All able hands, to war!
Harry: If you're looking for a mage to help out, let me introduce myself!
Zelda: You're... rather young to be volunteering yourself in a war, aren't you?
Harry: ...No younger than the entire academy of teenagers about to be embroiled in your war, Princess.
Z + H: The hero has come! With a magic touch!
Link panted as he pulled back his arrow, barely even aiming as he let loose. There wasn't a need to; the sheer number of enemies awaiting him meant that he could have fired with closed eyes and probably landed a hit.
As it was, a pair of Atlesian robots now found themselves without a head, falling to the ground with the sound of a molten speaker system trying to let out one final noise. The only reason they fell so easily was because the knight's arrow was no simple creation, but a bomb arrow. We because they were before, the darkness is influenced had strengthened them beyond imagination.
There was no time to contemplate his minor victory however, the Hylian was forced to leap backwards to avoid the incoming Beowulf. If there was one positive Link could draw from the situation, it was that his Master Sword still cut through them all like butter, cutting through the more dangerous specimens so the other Huntsmen could attend to the more easily beaten Grimm and robots.
But even Link had limits to his powers. While he could more easily combat greater hordes than many, he was but a single man; his sword could only swing so fast, his arrows flying at a certain rate that could not be surpassed. Sure, a gun may have been able to increase his attack speed, at the cost of being able to actually fight as efficiently.
"Link, allow us to pool our power for your use! Call upon our strength and use it as your own!" The voice of Nayru cried out within Link's mind, the Knight barely wasting a second as he pulled out the Sheikah Slate.
With the Amiibo rune selected, it was merely a case of pointing to the sky and allowing it to activate. With the enemies as scattered as they were and Zelda protecting him, the portal quickly began to appear with a familiar glowing orb floating out of it.
Before Link could crush it of his own accord however, a particularly menacing Nevermore decided it was the perfect time to strike; knocked out of the air, the Hylian could merely grunt as he crashed along the ground and his treasure flew away.
That was the thing about the goddesses' power – once it was formed into a physical object, they lost their control over it and save for the location of the portal it came from, Link had no control of it either. The whims of fate were the only factors leading the orb through the air.
That didn't mean it was wasted.
It wasn't as if Velvet was trying to retrieve the orb, too engrossed in her own battles to even notice it was floating behind her, but that didn't stop her from being forced back by a Taijitsu. Though saved by a copy of the Hylian Shield she was able to deploy at the last moment, the rabbit faunus was still shoved back with incredible power, more power than was necessary to completely shatter the orb.
A gasp escaped Velvet as she felt a sudden swell of power flowing through her body, a sensation far too foreign to be her own aura. Though she wouldn't recognise it until her partner informed her after the battle, amber eyes turned a blood red while a rainbow glow adorned her body.
She wasn't an idiot though; slowly being surrounded by more and more enemies, Velvet would have been a fool to not take advantage of the power that had been suddenly granted to her. As an unnaturally confident smile began to take place on her face, Velvet came to a most wonderful realisation – not only had the power restored her own vitality, it had decided to restore every single photo she had taken.
Link and Zelda weren't the only ones to pause when a harsh blue light suddenly filled the area. They also weren't the only ones to let out sounds of surprise when that very same light suddenly formed into a myriad of different weapons, a veritable armoury floating around Velvet's form as the rabbit faunus threw her arms out wide.
It was like a front row seat to a star storm, several dazzling lights flashing before people's eyes as they raced towards their targets. Flesh failed to stop them, as did metal; in what could have only been the span of a few seconds, tens if not hundreds of Grimm and robots alike found themselves shattered and torn apart as if tissue paper.
Perhaps it was Link who was most surprised. While the goddesses' power had certainly given him a rush the knight had never felt before, it only manifested in a single arrow. An ancient arrow, and one incredibly empowered at that, but still a single arrow. Compared to Velvet's hail of weapons, it paled in comparison.
Of course, such power did not come without consequence. After all, while Link might not have shown it, even firing that single arrow under the power of the goddesses had caused a significant drain on his stamina. For someone like Velvet, whose semblance did not actively drain much aura, the sudden decrease was not something she was ready to recover from.
As the last Boarbatusk fell dead, so too did Velvet fall to the ground panting heavily. The sight was enough to make those left astounded on the sidelines suddenly leap into action, some choosing to patrol the surrounding area while others worked to assist those injured.
"Link… We managed to find them off." Zelda gasped as she finally let her copy of Gianduja smack against the ground. Tears of relief pricked the Princess's eyes, her shoulders dropping while her hands cupped her face. "They survived. Vale hasn't been destroyed…"
Not because of their effort. If Ganon truly wanted to, the city would be razed to the ground by this point. The Grimm weren't like the monsters you'd find in Hyrule – Hylian monsters could only be reborn under a blood moon, whereas the Grimm could be spawned indefinitely so long as negative emotions existed. It was only the fact that he ran out of Grimm from Mount Glenn and couldn't be bothered to produce any more; with all of the death and destruction that the Grimm were causing, there could have been exponential numbers swarming their position, all just barely below the strength of a Guardian. They were saved because of his laziness, not because of their own strength.
"Link, how can you say that? We are stronger than we were before, the proof is right before us!" The Princess exclaimed, Link flinching from the visage of betrayal and hurt that appeared on such a delicate face. It was a face that he had promised would never grace Zelda again. "We've defeated the Calamity before, and we managed to prevent a tragedy like Hyrule from occurring. Surely that means were strong enough to beat him again, right? Right!?"
When teams RWBY, CFVY and JNPR eventually managed to regroup, it was to find a stoic faced Link and a Zelda that was gradually growing more terrified by the second.
Ozpin glanced down to the hand that held his, a hand he never dared hope he would hold again. Its grasp was just as warm and loving as he remembered all those centuries ago, as was the gaze that now weakly turned in his direction.
"Ozma…?"
The headmaster didn't speak, merely letting his grip tighten around her own. He simply could not find the words; any time he tried to speak, his breath left him. Could you blame him when he was talking to a woman long thought dead, trapped within a vessel born of pure hatred and the darkest of all magics?
Instead, he chose to merely brush his free hand against the woman's cheek, savouring the heat and delicate skin beneath. Ozpin wasn't quite sure when he started crying; it was only when he noticed the drops of water falling upon Salem's chest that the headmaster tried fruitlessly to draw back is tears.
"… How?" Was all he eventually managed to choke out.
"I wish I could be more grateful to have this form return to me… The Calamity absorbed his power, everything the dark god left behind is now his." Salem answered, her weak form doing little to stop the snarl of disgust that came to her. She may not be the raging demon she was before, but that didn't mean Salem was above the darkness present in humans. "Ozma, that thing that calls itself Ganondorf, it commands the darkness as if it were his own. It seeks to spread its influence infinitely, in this world and any other it can reach-!"
Salem's words were cut off by a racking cough, the blonde's face paling as she leant back in her bed. Perhaps under other circumstances, she would have been able to recover far quicker than she was now but Salem's body was not used to being so weak. It was trying to heal at her usual rate, a rate that would make her invincible it her tainted form, but her human body simply couldn't generate enough aura to assist her healing.
"Then will fight him and win. Together." Ozpin declared softly, his hands like an iron grip around her own. His mind wouldn't let him let go; the possibility that this was all a dream, no matter how irrational, meant that the headmaster would hold on to this miracle for as long as possible. "We have those who fought him on our side, Salem. Those who defeated him and according to legends, have done so countless times before. We no longer have to fight each other, we can combine our powers once more."
Ozpin couldn't help it. The reminder of how similar Ganondorf's and Link's story was to that of his and Salem's was the headmaster's breaking point, his mental state revealed in a series of overwhelmed chuckles. Had any other walked in at that moment, they would have immediately classed Ozpin as a madman and he was in no position to counter that image.
Luckily for him, it was Link and Zelda who entered.
"… The ones Ganondorf calls the hero and the Princess. The ones who are meant to defeat him." Salem breathed as they approached.
The two Hylians didn't get much of an impression. Sure, it was clear that they had participated in the great battle and she had heard the stories and rumours of their conflicts, but at that moment, they were defeated. Their movements lacked confidence, weapons were held in weak grips and their eyes were like windows to broken souls.
"Thank you both for your efforts. If it weren't for your assistance, then Vale would be in a far worse situation. As it is, we have been able to avoid disastrous casualties and destruction." Ozpin stated as officially as he could, but he couldn't hide how mentally exhausted he was. "However, it appears that we have finally exposed the mastermind behind the plot and his actions are far more drastic then we could have ever hoped. I trust that we have your assistance when it comes to stopping this Calamity?"
Ozpin had their assistance, that was for sure. It was whether that was enough. While he couldn't speak for the legendary heroes, the heroes who had managed to defeat the darkness time and time again throughout the history of Hyrule, they weren't equipped to fight this time. To defeat a Calamity that was only partially restored, a fraction of its strength, they had required the assistance of four ancient technologies specifically designed to weaken it. Even then, it had been followed by a long, gruelling battle for the fate of Hyrule. With the Calamity at its full power and in a world where such technology hadn't been created, their chances of success were woefully small.
"… What Link says is true. I can no longer access my sealing powers and though what I've researched of your technology is far more advanced than that of Hyrule, they pale in comparison to the Divine Beasts." Zelda added, not even bothering to hide the pain that came with such an admittance. "We will not stand by and allow the darkness to triumph while we still breathe, but… A war is not won through determination alone."
"The Calamity, Ganondorf… it has the power of the dark god and all within… the land of darkness. If we are to counter it, then we… would require the power of the light god." Salem coughed out, gently pushing herself into a makeshift seated position. "Tch, as if we could access the Domain of light. We would need something… connected to it."
"You have been there before we both have Salem. If there are any who can find a way, it will be us." Ozpin promised.
Link and Zelda shared a look. In all of their interactions with the headmaster, he had been a rather mysterious, if occasionally witty, man. It was only very rarely that Ozpin broke through his relatively stoic countenance, and even that was typically reserved moments of disciplining the students and incredibly dangerous situations. To see him speak with such emotion, such sheer passion in his voice was an oddity; an oddity that neither Hylian was entirely too sure how to respond to.
It would take a second, but both would quickly realise that Ozpin's open emotions weren't quite the weirdest part there.
Wait, Salem!?
"As in, the very same Salem who has been plaguing remnant with the Grimm? The very same Salem you claimed to be fighting?"
"You have heard me correctly. It appears that your evil cares not for the great boon it has given us." Ozpin answered, folding his arms with a sigh. "You remember the tale of the brother Gods I told you, correct? I told you part of the tale, enough for you to have a vague understanding of how Salem's control of the Grimm came to be, but I had not thought I would need to tell the rest so soon. The truth need not be hidden any longer, not when our fight has been ended."
Thus began a tale of gods and petty fights, of humanity's rebellion and the horrific consequences that came as a result. Of immortality as a punishment, of several rebirths and deaths in barely a minute and of an abandonment that left the world as naught but a Remnant of what it once was.
Link didn't let it show on his face, but Zelda was not so skilled at hiding the combination of fear and disgust. Ozpin and Salem were of similar mind; they assumed the horror the two showed as a result of the gods' actions.
They weren't wrong, just not entirely right either.
"You… You had access to your gods… And you led a rebellion against them?" Zelda breathed, bringing up her hands to cover her face. "I-I can understand, I think, because of how angry you were because of their treatment of Ozpin – Ozma – but… To go against the divine beings that gave life to your world is unthinkable…!"
Link couldn't help but agree. There are many differences between the species of Hyrule, whether it be culture, knowledge or simply biological. If there was one thing that truly united every single one of them however, it was the absolute faith they placed in the goddesses that gave birth to Hyrule and those who resided within. To ever even ponder going against the goddesses was one step below a crime in the eyes of the Hylian people, probably because the thought of the goddesses ever committing such heinous acts was even more preposterous.
"How sweet of you Link. It brings us great joy to know that our work is so appreciated by all people." The clearly amused tones of Nayru echoed in the back of Link's mind, though the cheerfulness abated slightly in her next words. "Though I wish Din was here to hear that as well. Though we may not be of as much assistance in a weakened state, to have all three of us awakened to be a great advantage to you… Farore, do you feel that?"
"What do you speak o-… You speak of the frail girl, yes Nayru? Why do you bring that up now?"
"Because, if we could potentially…"
"Link, are you all right?" Zelda's question startled Link out of the mental conversation occurring within, the light turning a reassuring smile towards his Princess. "Your eyes grew clouded for a moment, you need to rest? You have fought the hardest out of us all; rest is the minimum you require."
But Link did not answer his Princess, instead turning Ozpin with a strange, solemn look to his eyes. The white haired headmaster merely answered with a cocked eyebrow; he was fairly certain that, though his behaviour may not have been typical of his usual self, he had not done anything to warrant such a questioning and accusing gaze.
"I shall assume this is something serious." Ozpin remarked as he gave a small cough, his more stoic demeanour returning as his face sobered. "While I can understand my words have appeared sacrilegious to you, I am of the belief that they would not cause you to ignore the worries of your Princess. Ask away Link."
Now, how do you raise this kind of question without sounding rather strange…?
Ozpin, are you keeping someone underground?
"… I'm sorry, pardon?" Ozpin replied, his face seemingly lacking in reaction while Zelda gave a shocked look to her strongest knight. "Whatever could have brought a question like that up?"
They, the Goddesses… they can feel her. A girl forced into endless torment, her soul split with nothing to fill the void remaining. Her body is cannibalising itself trying to restore what is lost, but a physical form cannot restore a soul. You can hear her screaming through the pain, screams that have been forcibly silenced and locked away inside her mind. Ozpin… what are you keeping underground?
Link wasn't entirely sure which had been his thoughts and those of the Goddesses within his mind, but the sentiment was shared between them. The thought of being forced to live with only half a soul, the very thing that made a creature unique… it was a hell no mortal should ever be condemned to. That she was still able to feel the pain of such a thing without any outlet only made the situation even worse.
"…Ozpin, you surely aren't doing such a thing…?" Zelda wanted to deny, but her words immediately began to falter at the conflict within the older man's eyes.
"It is not something I chose with any malicious intent, I assure you. The moment that she passes away, her soul will be in malicious hands and as you can no doubt tell, it is a powerful soul indeed." Ozpin spoke with no small sense of bitterness. "I cannot deny my failings however. I did not know she was in such mental turmoil. Life support was, still is, the only option I have to keep those powers with someone on the side of the people."
"Do not blame him for her state. It was one of my own who stole the girl's power." Salem spoke up, her face having fallen more and more the longer they spoke. "One of those recruited by my corrupted form desired a Maiden's power. Cinder… she craved the thrill of strength, ignorant of that which she already held… I would call her to my side, but I know not if she would answer or be prepared to sacrifice that which she took."
Ah, yes. With how pitiful she looked, Link had almost forgotten that Salem was the woman who had become Mistress of the Grimm, plotting to bring an end to humanity. It was only natural she would surround herself with similarly less than savoury characters. If someone like that had access to immense powers and was simply asked to give them back, the answer was somewhat obvious, wasn't it?
"Ah, I see. So perhaps this girl could've assisted us with our plight… I highly doubt recovering from having a soul torn in two is an easy process though." Zelda muttered in defeat, resorting to merely fiddling with her hair.
…maybe recovering the soul didn't matter though. Not immediately at least.
"Link?"
"That girl won't be able to awaken and properly heal without a placeholder for her lost soul. We won't be able to recover as fast as require without access to a rich power source. Surely we can solve two issues at once?" Is what Nayru whispered into Link's mind, subsequently spoken aloud for the rest to hear.
"…Pardon but allow me to see if I have this right. Link, you intend for us to repair a splintered soul without needing to recover the lost half? And to do so by transferring a divine soul in its place?" Zelda couldn't help but mutter, the logical half of her mind battling with the religious to form some sort of rational from the situation.
Technically, it wasn't just one soul. Both Goddesses would be taking part.
"That's not what's wrong with this scenario, Link, and you know it!" Zelda immediately cried out in response. "Surely attempting to force the power of a Goddess on a human will have foul consequences. How can we be certain such a procedure will even work the way we hope? There's no precedent for such a thing at all!"
"But it's not as if were talking about a normal human. She is one of my Maidens; it would be wise not to underestimate the power one can wield." Ozpin interrupted, his face locked deep in thought. "As I mentioned before, Salem and I don't exactly have the most positive of track records when it comes to divine interactions. In this moment however, I fear there are no alternatives. If you truly place your trust in these Goddesses and they will assist us in our plight, I see no harm in trying it out."
"…I will do my best to reason with those of my… cabal, who may be potentially reasoned with. They will respond to my call; whether they accept what I have to say is another matter." Salem added, tenderly rising from her bed, to Ozpin's concern.
"You are in no position to be moving Salem, let alone dealing with potentially hostile people." He quickly warned, only to be waved off with a trembling expression that might've been a smile.
"It's not as if we're talking about a normal human… that's what you said, right?" Salem muttered with a growing strength as she straightened up, smoothing the creases in her clothes and ignoring how little it did to tidy up her appearance. "I may not have the power I once did, but it doesn't make me weak. Surely you of all people should remember that."
"I cannot argue with that; do as you wish, but only once we have completed what we have done here. I'd rather you have a bodyguard when the time comes." Ozpin conceded, rapping his cane against the floor as he stood with a new energy. "First, we meet with Amber."
Link and Zelda really should have expected it. Beacon, after all, was no small Academy; it only made sense that its basement would match the grandeur that the building sitting above had. What an Academy would do with such a vast empty space was questionable, but the Hylians supposed that for one who appreciated his secrets and mysteries as much as Ozpin did, there were quite a few options.
What they found there, however, was no surprise. That wasn't to say they weren't unnerved by what was there; quite the opposite, the scene would cause a shiver to go down any person's spine. To see a human encased in glass, attached to a whole mess of machinery that the common man would never even hope of understanding, was a reasonably strange sight. That only a portion of the technology visible was dedicated to keeping its subject alive only made things stranger.
Link found himself approaching the girl contained within, a hand tenderly reaching up to stroke the glass. It, as well as all of the tech surrounding, just felt so… Cold.
The technology of Hyrule all seem to share one common trait – the creators had made sure to leave their mark on everything they made. The ancient Sheikah technology might have been mass produced at one point, but every machine felt distinct in its combination of unexplained technology and mystical power. They practically sang in their wielder's hand thanks to the magical machinery they were composed off.
This just felt alien. Everything was a harsh black colour, only the slight illumination of the glass container bringing any sort of light to it. It was clear from the moment that the Hylian is approached that it was a machine forged by machine. Any sense of individuality or uniqueness had been beaten down, made to fit a mould without room for a creator's unique influence.
Of course, they had not come to marvel at the machinery, but that which was contained within – the fragile girl mere moments from death, trapped within an artificial slumber. How peaceful she seemed, barely even breathing and with no signs of emotion upon her face. If it weren't for the complex technology preventing such a fate, there was nothing to show she hadn't already passed into the next life.
Amber… how disturbingly weak she looked for one who held a great power. Then again, if what Link had been told of her was correct, she had been put through quite the tribulation.
"Indeed, I would not wish Amber's fate upon anyone. If you can prevent her suffering, then do what you must." Ozpin urged as he approached the mighty machine, every step punctuated with guilt as the headmaster closed his eyes.
Link did not blame him; such a sight was a symbol of his failure to protect Amber. Had Zelda been in the same position, the knight would no doubt be torn between refusing to look at someone he failed to protect and refusing to leave the side of his Princess.
"Yes… this might very well work…" the voice of Nayru mused in Link's mind, a growing sense f excitement entering the soft tones. "A creation with the ability to transfer powers. That will most certainly be useful."
Transfer powers…?
"A last resort in case we found no way to restore Amber to her original state, Link. The process would kill her, but considering the circumstances I would authorise such an action under, Amber would've been as good as dead anyway." Ozpin explained, a bitterness to his tone as he tried to school himself as much as possible. "There was a time where I looked upon this machine with pride. Where I thought my creation would help the world fight back against the darkness that pervaded. Now, I can barely stand to look upon it."
It still could, so long as the plan works out.
"Yes Link, you are correct. Please… do what you must to save Amber."
"There is a second transfer pod. Bring up the Amiibo rune and place your Sheikah Slate within." Nayru quickly instructed and though he wasn't quite sure whether the technologies would be compatible, Link followed the orders regardless. One didn't simply question the orders of their Goddesses after all.
As he was doing so, the smallest part in the back of Link's mind was laughing its head of, no care for the sobriety of the situation. If Link told anybody back in Hyrule that he was hearing the voices of the Goddesses, then they would laugh him out of their homes. Well, maybe the leaders and the champions wouldn't, but anyone else probably would. Then again, quite a good number had refused to accept the Master Sword for what it was; the people of Hyrule had apparently grown rather sceptical in the span of one hundred years.
Regardless, there was time to ponder that later as the knight activated the Sheikah late and set it in place, carefully lowering the glass down to shut the capsule. How he was meant to actually activate the rune while it was in the capsule, Link wasn't quite sure, but the Goddesses probably had a plan.
"So what happens now Link?" Zelda asked, steadily approaching her knight and placing her hands upon his shoulders. "I'm still not entirely sure how the Sheikah Slate functions in its entirety and from what little I do know, it isn't exactly the most compatible with the technology of Remnant. Are you certain that it will work?"
Honestly? No clue. But there wasn't any reason not to try it out, was there? Worst case scenario, nothing would happen.
"I suppose you're right with that. Very well; my faih in you hasn't been misplaced so far." Zelda replied as the smallest of smiles began to tease at her lips. "Shall we put this plan into motion then?"
"I assume all that is left now is to activate the machine." Ozpin called out as he approached the panel sat before the massive contraption, easily flicking through countless forms of security and identification. By the time the white haired headmaster was finished, he must've passed though hundreds of different recognition protocols, only to be met with a screen showing only a large red circle, bold white text reading 'activate' proudly emblazoned upon it. "The moment I press this button, all operations will begin. I await your affirmation."
"Screw your courage to the sticking place Link. We shall have this all under control." Farore's reassurances echoed in Link's mind, the Hylian closing his eyes momentarily before a new determination filled his body. There was no reason to turn back now.
It was time to go for it.
"Understood. Beginning now."
It was admittedly rather underwhelming at first. Both Link and Zelda had admittedly been awaiting some sort of incredible display of technological marvel, some immense divine force that danced before them as it brought about a miracle. When the machine simply hummed to life as any old appliance would, the Hylians were left somewhat wanting.
But that was until the Amiibo rune began to activate.
Typically, what occurred was that Link would designate a landing place for the intended payload and a portal would open in the sky for the gifts to appear from; simple enough, if one didn't wonder too hard about how such a feat was possible through machinery. The issue was that the capsule the Sheikah Slate had been placed in didn't have room to allow for such a thing, meaning that the portal that would've been high in the sky now filled the capsule.
All present covered their eyes as a swirling vortex of thunderous power burst into existence, raging with far greater ferocity than Link had ever witnessed before. What was usually a placid swirl of golden light was now tinged with green and blue energy that smashed against the glass and each other. The only escape was a single port at the top of the capsule, the energy soon rushing through a huge number of pipes with incredible force towards the opposing capsule – towards Amber.
As soon as the power flowed through the pipes and into the second capsule, Amber's voice began to cry out, a youthful yet hoarse sound that spoke to how little it had been used over time. Her screams were not unjustified, not with the sheer amount of energy flowing into her body and forcibly infusing itself into her aura. It didn't make listening any easier and watching was just as painful with how Amber's body began to thrash and convulse.
"It's working." Ozpin shouted over Amber's cry, his regret completely wiped away to be replaced with a beautiful combination of disbelief and amazement. "Her aura levels are rising! Life signs are stabilising, somehow! Your plan is actually working."
Link was expecting one of the Goddesses to make a boast or retort in the back of his mind, but he was only met with silence. A reasonable silence; they were probably far more occupied with ensuring that their transfer of power into Amber was successful than chatting in a random guy's mind.
"Something's happening to the system!"
Zelda's panicked cry drew their attention to the pipes hanging high above, a relatively calm transfer of energy form one capsule to the other now causing the pipes to bulge and warp in a frightening manner. If it continued to fluctuate any more, it would be impossible for them to retain their shape; what would happen to Amber or the Goddesses if the piping suddenly broke and released the energy?
"The machine creates a special field within the pipes in order to regulate and control the transfer of power through them. It was never intended to regulate this level of energy. It's draining itself dry in order to keep the defensive field active." Ozpin explained, only the smallest amount of frustration entering his voice. "The moment those defences fall, the energy transfer will be completely unregulated, it will destroy the machine and let out all of that gathered energy into the open atmosphere!"
"You mean we need to find an alternate power source!? Surely you have something sufficient for this kind of situation!" Zelda called out in response, drawing a wince from Ozpin that had the blonde gasping in surprise. "You really don't!? You never believed a problem like this could occur?"
"The system was never intended to regulate this much energy, nor energy this chaotic in nature." The headmaster retorted, the controls he was working on suddenly deciding to disappear. That was what happened, Link supposed, when you used holographic screens for near every user interface. "And my ability to monitor the situation has just been removed. This is why I always trusted Ironwood with the technological side of operations… any plans for an immediate energy source would be greatly appreciated."
If only aura could be used as power. If such a thing had been possible however, Ozpin wouldn't have considered the situation so dire – he did have the greatest reserves in the room after all. No, they would need to find an alternative energy source, something that could provide a massive amount of power in a short amount of time…
"If that's all you needed, you should have just asked."
That voice, it wasn't Farore or Nayru. No, it was something far more familiar and comforting, a voice that brought a look of astonished surprise to Zelda's face as soon as she heard it. Link didn't register it at all however, too preoccupied by the orange glow that had started to surround his body, the knight looking to his shining hand in confusion.
Bringing his other hand up, the Hylian couldn't believe his eyes as bolts of electricity began to jump from finger to finger, growing in size at an alarming rate until the blond was practically grasping a full blown lightning bolt. It didn't even stop there, growing in might until the electricity nearly completely encapsulated his body. It was a testament to Link's resilience that he didn't scream out; though it didn't hurt, it was certainly a frightening experience to watch, let alone be in the centre of.
"Link!?" Zelda yelled, almost about to run over had it not been for Salem's hand that wrenched her arm back.
"Ozpin, where is the power source!?" Salem called out after, Ozpin merely pointing in the direction of what could best be described as two oversized batteries. In reality, it was probably a vastly more complicated series of energy cells and converters, but that was a discussion for another time. "Link, whatever you're doing, aim it there!"
And so he did, Link thrusting his arms forward and watching in silent amazement as the electricity surged forward, a veritable beam striking the energy cells, miraculously leaving not a single scratch as they did so. With every second that passed, the greater the glow around the pipes grew, their bulging decreasing in strength and frequency until all was calm once more, the electricity surrounding Link fading to a more… 'reasonable' state.
"It worked, it really worked." Zelda muttered, closing her eyes as her hands came together in prayer. "So your soul really does still live in Link's heart…"
And with that, we end our tale for now. Transformations are happening, both in Amber and Link's hearts. What will these lead to? I hope you look forward to the next chapter! Can people who would never agree truly sit around the same table? There's a meeting to be had and it most definitely will not be a peaceful one.
Super hero time! See you next time!