Chapter 9 – The Stage is Set

Demise had been busy. His power was nearly complete. He had taken the city of Minas Tirith more easily than he had anticipated and had decided that it suited him far better than the Dark Tower in Mordor. The armies of Gondor had been unprepared and outmatched against his power. It was strange, he thought, the Others in this world had still not moved against him. Even now, his orcs were laying waste to this once peaceful kingdom, and the humans they didn't kill made decent slaves. Why hadn't the Others in this world moved against him? He wondered. Where were they? They were the sole reason he moved as slowly as he did. He knew now they didn't seem to want to interfere in this part of this planet, but then where were they?

He pondered this as his host sat on the white throne in the highest tower of Minas Tirith. Far below him, chained at the neck, and naked except for a loincloth the former king sat in his own filth. What was his name? Eldarion the second, ah yes, he remembered. Pitiful. He made interesting sport for his orc minions, but Demise wouldn't allow them to kill him. Not yet.

He pondered also how long it would take for his surprise to be discovered by the Hero.

The seven made their way quietly up the steps. Shepherd went first to scout it, then motioned for the others to come up. All was not well. He motioned for the others to keep quiet, but they all saw. The doors of the temple had been blown off their hinges. Only the frames still held together. All around them they could see the signs of something massive having ripped its way through the grove. Not a sound could be heard.

Shepherd motioned for Johnson and Davidson to check the far end of the ruins. A few minutes later they returned. "All clear, sir." Davidson said.

"What did you see?" Shepherd asked.

"The doors on the far end have also been damaged. There are two statues that looked like they've been shattered to pieces. The only thing that looks like it's still standing is the pedestal in what was the sanctuary. There's a sword embedded in it, kind of like the sword in the stone from the King Arthur type movies." Davidson reported.

Link looked at the doors that lay on the ground in pieces. "They were blown from the inside out." He said. "Whatever did this wasn't trying to get into the temple, it came from the inside of the temple."

"Now what?" Shepherd asked. "Link, can we still get inside the temple with just the door frame?"

Link studied it then said, "I don't know." He then turned to Davidson and said, "You said the sword is still in the pedestal, and it's undamaged?"

"Yeah, why?" The soldier replied.

"I may know someone who does know if we can still enter the temple." Link told them. "Wait here, he said. I have to do this alone."

"No way. We stick together. We all go, or no one goes." Shepherd responded. "Especially not if whatever made a mess of this place is still here."

"Alright, but no matter what happens, you cannot interfere with it, do you understand?" Link said with as much gravity as he could muster.

"Alright. Let's go." Shepherd said.

They all made their way across the ruined interior of the temple towards what had at one time been the inner sanctum. Link remembered the guardians who challenged him to solve a puzzle long before. It was their remains which Davidson saw scattered on the ground. Nothing barred their access to the sword.

Why hadn't it been damaged? Link wondered. It always had to be protected before. It couldn't actually protect itself now could it? Link ascended the stone steps to the pedestal. The others waited at the bottom. He approached the sword and stretched out his hand to it to take the hilt, as he had done so many times in the distant past.

A strangely mechanized yet lyrical voice sounded through the air and it was heard by all present, "Recognition accepted. My master accepted. Master Link, you are free to draw me from the pedestal. It has been a long time, master." The voice rang out.

"It most certainly has, far too long, Fi." Link whispered as he pulled upward on the sword. It gave way and slid easily out. Link pointed the sword skyward and a bright light flashed from the sword illuminating everything around them.

At this, an image of a strange looking young woman appeared instantly, at which Link's companions lifted their weapons. Link held out his hand for them to hold their fire and not shoot. "She won't hurt you." He called out. "She's an old and dear friend. Her name is Fi, she's the spirit of the Master Sword."

"Thank you master. I have unfortunate news to report to you. The Demon King's spirit recently escaped his captivity. I could no longer keep him bound. The Triforce of Power makes it impossible. I am sorry." Fi reported.

"We knew it would happen eventually, Fi." Link responded.

"Yes, we did." Fi replied.

"She's some kind of hologram being projected by the sword." McKay observed, whispering to no one in particular. "It definitely looks like Ancient tech."

"I was created and brought online by the goddess Hylia, whom you now know as Zelda, ten thousand years ago. I can only be wielded by the goddess' chosen Hero. No one else may dare touch me, at the risk of their own life." Fi responded.

"Right. Link, you said that she might know if we can still get into the temple with just the door frame." Shepherd asked.

"I calculate a ninety-eight percent probability that access to the true temple's interior is still possible as long as the door frame is still fully intact." Fi responded.

"Hey, uh, Fi?" McKay began. "Hey, uh, is it possible for us to fix a jewel to the sword, one that would be very useful in defeating the Demon King?"

"Rodney," Shepherd whispered, "we just met her and you already want to mount a jewel on her?"

"Please hand the jewel in question to Master Link so that I may analyze it." Fi responded.

Rodney dug a small case out of a pocket on his thigh and opened it. Inside was a small, red diamond shaped jewel that, stepping carefully up the steps he handed to Link.

Link then showed the jewel to Fi. She looked intently at it. "I can mount it without any significant damage to it or myself. Please, what is its function?" Fi inquired.

"It's called a sangraal jewel. It neutralizes the energy wavelengths of ascended beings." McKay replied.

"You could have just said it kills evil gods, Rodney." Shepherd said.

"I understood what 'Rodney' said perfectly." Fi said. "Processing analysis. Composition unknown. Highly complex molecular structure. Not of Hylian manufacture or technology. Probability of success at stated purpose, unknown. Has it been tested previously?"

"Once, on a larger scale as a weapon of mass destruction." McKay answered. "The test was successful. This one is meant for a single target instead of many."

"Demise." Fi said.

"Yes." Link answered.

"You intend to break the cycle, Master Link?" Fi said.

"Yes, Fi. We will both finally be free of him." Link said.

"The probability of failure remains astronomical, Master Link." Fi observed.

"Hasn't it always, Fi?" Link replied.

"Please place the jewel against the cross piece of my hand guard." Fi instructed. Link followed her instructions. As soon as the jewel touched the metal it began to change and shape itself around the jewel until the Jewel was firmly and snugly embedded in the Sword. "Assimilation complete. Sangraal jewel is now fully powered and operational." Fi announced. The jewel itself glowed red on the crosspiece.

Link drew the Ordonian sword he had carried for the last six years and laid it on the ground next to the pedestal. Fi's image vanished and it appeared as though she leapt into the sword in Link's hand. Link gave the sword a wave and this placed it in the scabbard at his back.

"Ok, so now how do we open the portal to the temple?" Shepherd asked.

"Follow me." Link replied.

The seven of them walked back to the empty door frame and link drew a small flute from under his tunic. He played six notes, the same notes that he had heard Impa play so many years before. "Stand back," he said. The door frame shimmered and then a familiar, water like image appeared in front of them. "That's some tune." Shepherd remarked. "Zelda's lullaby." Link said.

Link replaced the flute under his tunic, drew the Master Sword once more, raised his shield and stepped through the portal. The others followed suit.

Inside, the temple was still a golden glow, but something had gone terribly wrong. Stone benches were smashed. Pots were shattered. The gateway through which they had traveled lay on it's face on the floor, having been wrenched from its hiding place. In front of it lay the body of an old woman in a pool of blood.

Link replaced his sword and shield on his back and quickly ran down to her. "Impa!" he called out.

He lifted her aged head. Her neck was still supple. "Secure the area!" Shepherd called out, and he and his men began to circle around the chamber.

Link cradled Impa's head in his arms and she weakly opened her eyes, "Hero?" She said in a fading, aged voice.

"Yes, your grace, I'm here now. We've got to get you out of here and get you some help." He said to her, searching her body for her wound. It was right across her midsection, a nasty gash torn into her side by some foul claw. It continued to bleed profusely.

"No, Hero. Link, you cannot move me from here. If you move me from this place I will die. Time and the elements have no meaning here. If I enter normal time, I will die with this wound." Impa said slowly. "It was the Demon King." She wheezed. "He finally broke free. I'm not sure how long ago." Each word brought her pain as she tried to speak them. "He wanted you to find this place, and me, like this. He wanted to me to remain in pain unable to die. He didn't want to leave one of his minions for you because he wanted to meet you himself one last time. He's waiting for you in Middle-Earth."

Shepherd came up to Link and saw Impa's wound. His eyes went wide with rage. "My god," he said. "If you don't kill him, Link, I will." He then met the old woman's eyes, "Is there anything we can do for her?" He asked, knowing what a normal answer would be. But Hyrule wasn't a normal world, and had a way of throwing things at you sideways that you didn't expect.

Link looked up at him in anguish, and then remembered, "Fairy's Tears!" He practically shouted.

"Yeah, what about them?" Shepherd asked.

"I have some!" Link felt under his chain-mail for a small bottle. "I won them for rescuing a Great Fairy a few years ago." He brought the bottle out, it glowed with a pink light which sparkled. He thought of his mother, and realized that Farore had blessed him with the chance he hadn't been given with Saria. "Here, Impa take this." He held the vial up to her lips and she drank.

Immediately, Impa's wound began to close and she looked as though she was glowing herself. Shepherd even thought she may have been getting younger! She blinked her eyes and sat up.

"That was a precious gift to give me, Hero." She said, her voice stronger, much stronger than any of them had ever heard it.

"Hyrule could not afford to lose you, Impa." Link said.

McKay had circled back to see Impa standing up and in better health than he was. "How in the world?" He said.

"Magic." Link responded.

"If you want to play the game, you have to learn the rules." McKay muttered grudgingly.

"Wise words." Impa said.

"Yeah, um, we're secure here, John. There's nothing else here. The gate looks toast though." McKay said.

"Great, now what?" Shepherd said.

Just then, Link remembered the night before, and his mother. "Impa, Farore came to me last night and told me that there was a book which was kept where time and the elements couldn't touch it. Do you know where it is?"

"There are many books here in this place." Impa responded.

"Books? Where?" McKay asked excitedly.

"In the library of the temple of course." Impa responded impatiently.

"Is there a linking book there?" Mckay then caught himself and began to explain further, "is there a book that described another world with a panel in the back of it like a window that shows you the world?"

"Yes, there are many like that. They describe and show many worlds." Impa responded.

"Can you take us there, your grace?" Link asked her, respectfully.

Impa eyed all of them thoughtfully, and then said, "of course, follow me, and don't veer from my path. The temple of time holds many wonders, and dangers."

They followed her as she ascended the steps of the temple. As she passed hallway and room she lightly disarmed traps, snares, and guardians to allow them to pass. Link didn't remember it being that easy the last time he had been made to explore this temple.

Finally, several floors up, they reached a room which was lined from floor to ceiling with books. "In here," she motioned them all in.

"There's something very familiar about this room." Link said. "I feel like I've been here before."

"There is something very 'D'ni'ish about it, isn't there?" Shepherd said.

Impa led them over to a shelf of books with names written neatly in a flowing script on their spines. They looked as if they had just been printed and bound yesterday. There was no dust or age on them to be seen.

"We're looking for a 'book of Earth' or 'book of Terra'." McKay said.

"The Book of Terra?" Impa said, "why that one?"

"It's hard to explain, but these books act like gateways if you press your hand to the panel in the back. They draw you in and transport you to that world." McKay responded.

"I know what these books are, Doctor McKay. Do you think I've spent thousands of years here just sitting and looking important?" Impa replied. "I can read the ancient writing. I was asking why you want the Book of Terra when Demise is in Mudora."

Rodney was taken aback by that. "Oh. Okay, well... um..."

"Wait a second, I thought he was in Middle Earth?" Shepherd said.

"Mudora is the ancient term for Middle Earth, Colonel Shepherd. You will also need a book to return here to Hyrule." She said as she plucked two volumes from the shelf and handed them to Shepherd.

"Hang on." McKay then said, absolutely irate. "The linking book was here the entire time, and you didn't bother to tell us about it? We could have gone home six years ago!"

"You weren't ready for it, and travel through time is easy for this place." Impa replied sagely. "We will discuss your return home when you return here; if you return. I hedge my bets, you might say, in protecting my world. Wouldn't you do the same?"

Shepherd didn't know if he wanted to smile at or hit the old lady. He then thought of all the technology which they had introduced to Hyrule for the very same reason, and decided he understood her very well.

"Alright, we go to Middle Earth then. Johnson, Davidson, Billings, Samuels, you guys in?" Shepherd asked.

"All the way, sir. We've never backed down yet." They responded.

"Rodney, are you good with this?" Shepherd asked.

Rodney still looked extremely annoyed, but then said, "yeah, I'm fine. I'm good to go."

Shepherd looked at Link and didn't have to ask. His eyes told him everything. Either Demise was going down, or Link was. Either way, it would be over.

"Good luck." Impa said.

"Look after Epona?" Link said.

"Of course, and the other horses as well." She replied.

Shepherd tucked the small return book into a pocket on his thigh. The seven men held hands and Link touched the back panel of the Book of Mudora. The seven men transformed to pure energy and were drawn into the window of the book.

"May the three goddesses go with you. Nayru grant them your Wisdom, Din grant them your power, Farore grant them your courage." Impa whispered as a prayer.

She then took the Book of Mudora with her as she descended the stairs again. She could now afford to leave the temple for a short time. The Fairy's Tears had given her all the strength she would need. The horses would need to be returned to Hyrule castle, and the seven companions would need all the help she could give them. "I always hedge my bets," she said to herself, "it is time I paid my Lady a visit once more."