Chapter Forty-Two
Link stopped as he reached the edge of the cliff that dropped into the molten lake below. The magma bubbled and roiled, but the blonde barely seemed to notice as he looked across the vast gap towards the floating island. His eyes narrowed as he looked at Ganondorf's tower before reaching into his pouch.
"We shall handle this, Hero." Rauru's voice echoed, making Link blink and Navi chime in surprise. A collage of different colored balls of light began to appear around them, coming together and culminating into a twenty-foot bridge of light that reached across the expanse. "Now go forth with haste!" He intoned solemnly.
Link blinked a couple more times before he carefully placed his left foot on the bridge to test it. When it stayed sturdy under his foot, he hesitated for a few seconds before swiftly equipping Mirror Shield to better combat Ganondorf's magic. With that done, he quickly ran across the rainbow bridge with Navi right beside him.
"Link, we'll stop him this time." Navi reassured him and received a nod in reply.
The two reached the far side and without hesitation Link walked up to the large metal door, which seemed more an impediment than an entryway. He effortlessly opened the massive portal with enough force that almost had it fly off its hinges before entering. As he walked in Link froze as music started playing; the deep echoing tones of a sinister song played on an organ that echoed throughout the mostly empty tower. In fact, the only things that could be seen in the dark chamber was a red carpet that led to a spiraling, enclosed staircase set in the middle, and dozens of bones with random pieces of armor and weapons scattered about. A few doorways were visible, but much of the room was enshrouded in darkness.
Link's eyes flicked around carefully for a couple of seconds before he ran on the carpet to the stairs while the music played. He swiftly ascended upward past several uneventful, bone-filled floors but paused as he reached the seventh floor. There before him stood two Iron Knuckles, a black one to the right and the other white on the left. Both stood impassively on the far side with a large battle-axe set before each, guarding the stairway with an eternal patience.
The blonde barely hesitated for a second before rushing forward, the Master Sword and Mirror Shield quickly readied for combat. Both Iron Knuckles shifted with a rattle of metal at his approach and readied their axes. The white one walked forward first with ponderous steps, the black one a few seconds behind it.
Link came in range of the white one as it had started an upward wind-up before bringing its axe down in a powerful downward swing at his head. He nimbly jumped to the right to avoid the attack before retaliating with an upward slash that effortlessly tore through the golem. Even as pieces of armor flew about, Link squared his stance and shifted his shield to block the horizontal swing of the black Iron Knuckle. The impact brought a clear, powerful tone and released a small shockwave that ruffled Link's clothes and made Navi struggle to keep her position in the air. However, the green-clad blonde proved immovable and his blue eyes kept their focus.
The Iron Knuckle hesitated as its limited intelligence tried to process this smaller being stopping its attack almost effortlessly. It ended up being its last moment as Link ducked under the unmoving axe and threw himself into a spinning slash. "Hyaa!" He roared as his sword tore through the suit of armor. Link came out the spin already sheathing the Master Sword, placing the Mirror Shield on his back, and then continuing his run to the stairwell without pause.
The entire exchange had taken three seconds.
After Link finished climbing this last set of stairs, he found himself pausing at a large double-door. The music from the organ was loud enough to make his ears flick, and despite himself he swallowed once before his eyes firmed again as Navi gave a sharp chime. He reached out with both hands to push open the door and walked in before stopping at what awaited him.
"Link!" Zelda called out over the sound of the organ. The Hylian Princess was held high in the air of the cavernous room, still trapped inside the dark purple crystal, with a pained expression on her face. Large, multi-colored glass windows decorated the room, and beyond them the outside could be vaguely seen.
Under her sat Ganondorf as he played a large organ, his fingers dancing gracefully across the keys. Abruptly he stopped, an amused smile on his face at the indulgence of the music, as the three different Triforce pieces began to glow and pulse faintly. "Hm hm hm hm hm hm." The tyrant chuckled darkly as he stood, the organ fading into nothingness, while Link and Zelda looked at the back of their hands in surprise.
Ganondorf turned to face Link with a dramatic sweep of his cape. "Can you feel it, kid?" He asked with a quick glance at his own glowing hand. "They can feel how close they are to their other parts… that the moment of being claimed is upon them." The amused smile became a smirk as Ganondorf looked back up at Link as the pieces stopped pulsing. "Only those powerful enough to fully utilize such a tool as the Triforce can be allowed to hold it. These toys are too much for the likes of you!" He declared, bringing his right fist up in a gesture of domination.
"I command you! Give me your piece now!" Ganondorf ordered and the Triforce of Power glowed brightly as it emphasized his order.
Dark waves of power shot forth to engulf Link and Navi, the latter unleashing a sharp chime that quickly weakened as the fairy slowly fluttered to the ground. Link closed his eyes as his entire body shook under the pressure, legs trembling and threatening to give out entirely. However, even as Ganondorf began to smirk in triumph the blonde clenched his hands into fists and reopened his eyes. Burning resolve shone through and, as if to counteract its counterpart, the Triforce of Courage began to glow and allowed his body to stand firm.
Ganondorf blinked in surprise before his smirk returned. Allowing the Triforce of Power to cease its pressure, he brought his right hand back down and began to slowly walk across the room, boots echoing loudly with each step. "Well then… I see that other means must be utilized to claim what is mine." He allowed with a touch of condescending respect.
"Link…" Navi said weakly from the floor and the blonde looked down before crouching to gently pick her up. "I'm sorry… I can't… his darkness is too powerful… I can't get close to him." She got out weakly and Link's eyes widened in surprise. "I'm so sorry, Link, but I can't help you." Shame radiated in her tone at the admission, but even as she spoke small charges of magical darkness could be seen pulsing around her.
Link gave her a comforting smile and shook his head in denial of her apology. "Can you reach Zelda?" He asked, his gaze never once going to the oncoming apocalypse.
Navi let out a small chime before slowly flying up. "I… I think so." She said but then hesitated. "Link… will you be okay?" She asked and received a small, comforting smile in response that neither obviously believed. "Don't lose!" The fairy demanded of her partner before fluttering to go around the room to Zelda.
Link's smile faded as he stood and turned to face Ganondorf, readying the Master Sword and Mirror Shield as he did so. He walked towards his enemy confidently, no hint of anxiety on his face as the two closed in.
Ganondorf came to a stop twenty feet away and crossed his arms over his chest, his contemptuous smirk still in place.
At the same moment Link broke into a sprint towards him, eyes fixed on the dark tyrant. As he closed in, Link leapt forward to deliver a two-handed slash.
Ganondorf offered a dark chuckle right before a dark purple magic erupted underneath Link, sending him flying back with a gasp of pain. "Is this all?" He asked before pausing as his opponent backflipped and landed on the ground, sliding back a few feet before standing firm.
Link's gaze was intent as he sprinted back in at Ganondorf, who continued to watch with amused dismissal. As he closed in another eruption of dark magic came from under him, but even as it came into existence Link was already nimbly dodging to the side. His feet touched the ground and continued to propel him forward, only to be forced to dodge another blast of energy.
"Hm hm hm hm." Ganondorf chuckled as he watched Link desperately evade. "Is this all the so-called Hero of Time has to offer? A foolish kid who can't even get close to me?" He asked before giving a disappointed sigh. "Perhaps I…" The Evil King trailed off as his eyes narrowed thoughtfully.
Link's evasion of the eruptions of magical power had become less desperate and more precise, almost preplanned as he worked to find a pattern. As he started to close in, an amused grin once more came to Ganondorf's face.
"I see… perhaps there is more to you after all." Ganondorf allowed as Link found an opening and lunged with a battle cry. Right before the thrust would have hit, the red-haired king disappeared and then reappeared twenty feet to Link's right. "But that is still nothing compared to what I am." He finished as he brought his right hand up, a crackling ball of dark energy already forming in his palm.
Link quickly recovered from his surprise at Ganondorf's teleportation as he landed on the ground and turned to prepare for the incoming attack. Even as he readied the Master Sword, Ganondorf teleported again to appear right behind him.
"Farewell." Ganondorf said as he launched his ball of magic into Link's back from a few feet away.
"AAAAHHHHH!" Link screamed as the force of the attack crackled into him and sent him flying across the room into a dark granite wall. His eyes tightened before he managed to reposition his body to roll up the wall, transferring the momentum into several running steps further up.
As Ganondorf and Zelda watched in surprise, Link leapt back at Ganondorf with both hands on the Master Sword to deliver a two-handed slash. The dark tyrant sent another dark crackling ball in a reflexive gesture, but the incoming Hylian missile countered with a slash that sent the ball back at its caster.
"Hnnnggg!" Ganondorf groaned through gritted teeth as his power crackled through him, but even through the pain he moved to dodge. However, he wasn't fast enough.
"HYAAA!" Link roared as he managed to deliver a glancing blow that still sliced through the dark armor with ease.
"GRRAAAAAGGHHHH!" Ganondorf roared in pain while Link tucked himself into a roll that ended with him back on his feet.
Everyone in the room froze in surprise at the sight of Ganondorf's blood slowly dripping to the ground.
"He… he can be hurt…" Zelda said softly while Navi let out an excited chime.
"You…" Ganondorf grit out as his right hand clenched into a fist and a golden light shone forth. Rage and damaged pride flared in his eyes as he glared at Link. "Let me show the true difference in our power!" He roared and then flew thirty feet into the air. The tyrant brought both hands up with a loud roar and an orb of non-light began to charge, drawing in all light from the room into its depths.
Link's eyes widened in shock, an action shared by Zelda with a sharp chime from Navi, before his resolve firmed and grip tightened on the Master Sword's hilt.
"Yes, what have you to fear from my dark power with that holy blade?" Ganondorf demanded as the non-light grew to five feein diametert. "After all, you can reflect anything back at me. Correct?" He went on, to which Link's eyes narrowed in confusion. "Then deflect this!" The Evil King roared and then thrust the now ten-foot-wide orb forward.
Link readied the Master Sword, only to freeze as the orb shattered into two dozen smaller blasts flying around in an erratic path towards him. His eyes flicked around rapidly as he tried to trace the different paths, leading to a deadly hesitation as the blasts homed in on him. At the last second Nayru's Love surrounded him in its protective embrace, but to no avail. The blue crystalline barrier shattered under the bared might of Ganondorf's magical power, but just as Link's eyes started to widen with shock and fear he was surrounded by a thin blue aura.
"AAAAAAAAAHHHH!" Link's tortured scream echoed over the continuous barrage, the impacts raising smoke that engulfed him. Abruptly his scream cut off, leaving the smoky area silent after the final blast hit him.
"Link!" Navi cried out with a sharp chime while Zelda looked on in wide-eyed horror.
The smoke dissipated over several seconds, allowing Link's silhouette to be seen. As it continued to spread his entire body came into focus, and Zelda gasped. The still-smoking blonde's body was covered with burns, blood dripping down to the floor. He stood there with his head drooped down and wild hair covering his eyes. His tense stance slowly became too relaxed as his left hand released the Master Sword while his right arm dropped low from the weight of the Mirror Shield. A loud clanging filled the room as sword and shield hit the ground, followed quickly by Link dropping to his knees. A long, rattling exhalation came from him at the impact, one that kept on going as the air continued to leave his lungs.
"Link!"
"Link!"
"Brother!"
Zelda, Navi, Saria, Ruto, Nabooru, and Darunia called out desperately as Link started to fall forward. The blonde immediately locked up and took in a gasping breath at their cries, making even Ganondorf freeze in surprise.
Link stayed on his knees as he shakily drew breath, his twitching and trembling body betraying the agony obviously coursing through him. For several seconds, there was silence as everyone remained still in the wake of Link's ability to seemingly force himself back to life.
Ganondorf eventually drifted back to the ground, his cape flapping around gently with the movement. The sound got a small twitch from his blonde opponent, proving that Link was still conscious. "Enough, boy." The dark tyrant bade with a touch of condescending respect. "You've done enough, far more than what could be expected of any reasoning being." He said and Zelda couldn't help but swallow at his words.
Ganondorf studied Link for a couple of seconds, respect showing through his superior expression for an instant before he continued. "Give me the Triforce of Courage, swear fealty to me, and you shall live." Ganondorf commanded as he brought his hand up invitingly. "Not only that, but I shall even grant you a boon. Once the world is mine, Hyrule shall be yours to do as you see fit. The princess, the people, all shall be under your command." He said with a smug smile.
After a moment, his smile hardened and his hand curled into a fist. "Continue this foolishness, and you shall beg for death a hundred times over before I shall grant you that mercy." Ganondorf swore, his golden eyes gleaming with dark intent.
Link was passive for several seconds, the only sound from him being his ragged breathing, before he started to move. Slowly, torturously, the blonde forced himself up to his left foot, tilting forward and barely catching himself with his left fist. He gasped at that and had to stop for a few more seconds before his fist shakily came up and across his chest to be placed against his left shoulder.
Ganondorf's smug smile returned while Zelda watched with wide eyes. "A wise-"
"I…" Link interrupted through his panting, his breath giving out and making him pause after that one word before he could continue. "Promise…" He finished, his words making Ganondorf look at him in confusion. Zelda, however, froze at his words, unable to move as he slowly brought his face up. Blue fires raged within the depths of Link's eyes as they locked on to Zelda's, making them almost seem to glow. A glow that was enhanced by the golden light that started to build on the back of his left hand.
Zelda let out a sharp gasp, one hand coming to her mouth and eyes widening in surprise at his words and expression, while Navi let out an approving chime.
Ganondorf's eyes narrowed in growing anger as his enemy's eyes shifted to him. "Do you think my words an exaggeration, boy?" He demanded, but Link remained quiet as he gathered up the Master Sword and Mirror Shield. "You shall writhe in agony for your impertinence, and then I shall make you watch as I tear the wings from your bug." His warning caused a temporary flare in Link's eyes, but the blonde remained silent as he struggled to stand.
As he did so, the glow from the Triforce of Courage continued to grow and his trembling began to fade.
"I conquered Hyrule in a day, brought down the Gorons to prove a point, and sealed the Zoras for all time on a whim!" Ganondorf continued, his rage growing as Link continued to rise up. "What do you have that could make you possibly hope of standing a chance against my power!?" He demanded with a roar, his right hand sweeping out and making his cape flare back dramatically.
Link was silent for several seconds as his breathing became deep but steady and his body ceased all shaking. "Courage." He said as the Triforce of Courage became distinct even within the golden glow coming from his left hand.
Almost as if in response, six points of light emerged from his torso. Yellow, green, red, blue, purple, and tan all showed up in a hexagonal pattern, lights that merged together to sheathe him in a shifting rainbow aura.
"Hero of Time, the moment is at hand." Rauru's voice echoed, making Link blink in surprise. Ganondorf, though, continued to study his glowing enemy with surprise, obviously not hearing the words of the Light Sage. "Thou are now a conduit of our blessings. With our strength combined with the Triforce of Courage, thou should be able to match the Evil King's power." He said and Link's ears flicked once. "Be warned, however, that we must retain enough magic to seal Ganondorf away."
"In other words, Brother…" Darunia trailed off momentarily.
"GO!" The voices of Rauru, Saria, Darunia, Ruto, Impa, and Nabooru commanded emphatically.
"HYAAA!" Link roared as he started forward and seemed to blur from existence. The dark tyrant's eyes widened slightly before teleporting away to reappear a few feet away as Link appeared five feet behind where he had been.
"Graaagh!" Ganondorf roared as more blood streamed down his left side, almost in time with the blood running down the Master Sword's edge. Even as he turned to glare at Link, he found the blonde right on top of him. Ganondorf teleported away as another slash started to cut into his stomach, getting another roar of pain from him.
The Evil King dropped to his right knee when he reappeared, his right hand clasped to his stomach and left hand going to the ground to support him. Shock reflected clearly in his golden eyes, but he quickly recovered with a snarl and looked up as the rainbow-enshrouded Hero of Time appeared before him with sword poised to strike. He quickly shifted to the right of the thrust, his upper body twisting to add to the dodge, and his left fist came up glowing with dark power.
"No!" Ganondorf denied with a roar as he punched, and Link narrowly got the Mirror Shield in place to block.
Link grunted as the force of the punch sent him back several feet before he regained his balance. His focus immediately returned to his enemy even before he stopped sliding, his grip tightening for a second on the hilt of the Master Sword.
"I have had enough!" Ganondorf declared as he thrust both hands out. The walls and roof broke apart into countless pieces of debris, making Link blink and look around in surprise. "Be crushed and die!" He commanded as he pulled both hands in and dozens of pieces of dark granite began to fly in at his blonde enemy.
Link became a rainbow blur as he dodged between and slashed through the pieces swarming him, and after almost a minute his actions got another snarl from his opponent.
Ganondorf brought his right hand up and the pieces all surged up into the sky. With a twist of his left hand they came together in a long, fifteen-foot wide undulating column that streamed down at an angle towards Link.
Blue eyes went wide in surprise before quickly hardening again. A couple of seconds before the stream would have hit Nayru's Love enveloped him with its protective embrace, now a beautiful and scintillating array of colors. Pieces shattered into dust as they slammed into the crystal aura, but the dark stream continued on and on as it tried to break through. In the end, though, when the last piece had shattered Nayru's Love remained without even a scratch.
Ganondorf growled in frustration before bringing both hands up. "Fine then! Try this one again!" He declared before teleporting high into the air, the clouds rumbling in protest of the ongoing clash. An orb of non-light began charging between his hands, making Navi chime as Link and Zelda watched in shock.
"Hero, we lack the magic to help shield thee from that spell and still be able to seal Ganondorf!" Rauru reported, his own shock evident from his tone.
"We can't let Link die!" Saria argued sharply.
"Rauru, there has to be a way to do both!" Ruto demanded imperiously, her voice also tight with emotion.
"I…" Rauru trailed off uncertainly, the two conflicting problems seemingly insurmountable.
My friends, grant me everything you can spare. Link's thoughts cut in as he reached out to the Sages, getting a few faint sounds of surprise in response. But make sure you retain enough to seal Ganondorf! He added emphatically a second later as the orb grew to five feet.
"Hero of Time, as I said that will not be enough to defend with." Rauru reminded with strained patience.
That's why I'm not defending. Link informed the Light Sage as he dropped Nayru's Love and bent his knees slightly in anticipation.
Silence reigned as the orb of non-light reached ten feet in width.
"Not… Hero, have thee lost all reason!?" Rauru finally demanded after a few seconds.
Link was silent as he regarded the flying Evil King and the still growing spell charging between his hands. A small, resigned yet amused smile came to him, making Ganondorf's eyes narrow and Zelda's eyes to widen slightly. I… don't remember what it's like to have it. He admitted before the smile faded. Despite that, I have a plan. My friends, please trust me! Link implored, and barely a second had gone by when the red light began to shine more intensely.
"Like you even have to phrase it that way, Brother!" Darunia said with a laugh. "Not only did I swear to support you with everything I have, you've saved my people twice over, including my son! If you say you have a way to win, that's good enough for me!" He declared firmly, all amusement abruptly gone from his voice.
Even as the Fire Sage finished speaking the green, blue, purple, and tan lights also increased in brightness.
"You're still that same determined little boy, even now." Saria said with warm approval. "Please be careful!" She implored with some anxiety in her tone.
"You save my people from an eternal slumber and dare act as if I shall not return that debt? Furthermore, do not dare insinuate that I should fail to keep my word again." Ruto said haughtily, though warm affection could be heard despite her words.
"I have already entrusted the Princess to you. My new powers are nothing in comparison." Impa said firmly.
"You saved my very mind and soul from slavery. Also, I'm looking forward to seeing that bastard fall." Nabooru put in savagely and there was a few moments of silence as Link awaited Rauru's decision.
Everyone blinked in surprise when the image froze there as Rauru brought his arms down. "Erza, thee stated previously upon my wrongful view of Link." He started and Erza's eyes narrowed slightly in remembered anger but also curiosity. "This is when I saw the true depth of my folly and misunderstanding, a shameful thing indeed for a Sage." Rauru turned when he was finished and looked at everyone solemnly.
"To me, Ganondorf's rise and defeat was but a page in the annals of history. His defeat had been prophesied once the Hero of Time could combine the strengths of the Triforce of Courage and the Sages. With that completed, the final battle could not be in doubt." Rauru said and got several blinks as well as looks of surprise in return. "But the will of the Evil King was something I had failed to anticipate. For seven years he had explored the depths of power that the Triforce could provide, something that reality itself is unable to deny. It is one thing to know this… but something else entirely to bear witness to it." He paused before swallowing gently, a hint of shame flashing through his eyes for a second.
"However, when my own faith faltered, my fellow Sages, despite their freshness to their abilities and responsibilities, kept their own. After all, their faith was not in a prophecy by that point." Rauru went on, now with a gentle smile in his face as he looked at Link. "Rather, it was in a young man that had again and again stood in defiance of such power, that had acted not from providence but from his heart. That he happened to be the Hero of Time was inconsequential. Nay, the important thing to them was that it was Link making the request." He said and everyone looked at the now embarrassed, low-eared Link. "Once I realized that, I decided to follow them and place my faith in him as well." Rauru turned and brought his arms up, his robe flourishing with the movement.
The yellow light flared brightly, enveloping and enhancing the others in a blinding surge of power. "Very well, Hero. I shall follow thine lead!" Rauru declared and Link nodded his head once.
"DIE!" Ganondorf roared and the twenty-foot orb shattered into dozens of smaller ones that arced around and towards their target.
The rainbow aura flared around the Master Sword as It was brought back. "HYAAAAA!" Link roared as he launched himself into the air in a rapid spin, creating a pillar of glowing energy with him at the top. As each orb hit, it was immediately deflected back and soon enough the entire barrage was flying back at their caster.
Ganondorf's eyes went wide in shock at the reversal, and before he could react the barrage slammed into him. "GRRAAAAGGGHHHH!" He roared in agony over the resulting blasts, but Link wasn't satisfied with that.
The blonde sheathed the Master Sword and placed the Mirror Shield on his back as he fell back to the floor. Before he landed, Link reached into his pouch to pull out the Fairy Bow and an arrow, which he immediately notched after touching down. Pure, brilliant light erupted from the arrow as Ganondorf let out another pained roar that dispelled the smoke around him and Link released his hold.
Ganondorf's eyes went wide as the Light Arrow streaked up into his stomach, but as even as his mouth opened the holy light surged in vengeful protest and stole his voice. The agony also stole his focus and sent him plummeting to the tower floor. He barely recovered enough in time to land on his feet, though he was forced to one knee as well to better absorb the impact. He looked up with a snarl, only to freeze as he saw an airborne Link, no longer glowing, coming down at him.
"Hyaa!" Link yelled as he slashed down into Ganondorf with all of his strength, actually stumbling past him with the momentum of the swing just ahead of the blood spray. He eventually dropped to one knee, bracing himself against the Master Sword and panting heavily as the Mirror Shield fell to the ground.
Ganondorf stayed on his knee, gasping for breath as his blood continued to flow, and the purple crystal imprisoning Zelda disappeared. With one final breath, the Evil King collapsed.
The Hylian Princess dropped down with a surprised expression, but handled the twenty-foot tall drop with practiced ease even in her dress. "Link!" Zelda called out as soon as she stood back up and immediately ran to him, Navi already by his side.
Link finished pulling a bottle filled with a blue potion from his pouch by the time she reached him, his shaking hand barely able to keep a hold of it.
"Please, allow me." Zelda requested gently as she knelt by him, carefully taking the bottle from Link's hand. "What is this?" She asked even while removing the cork. "I've never seen its like before." She went on while carefully helping him drink, one gloved hand behind his head to steady him.
"It's a brand new type of potion from the Kakariko Village potion master. It's supposed to heal the body while also replenishing one's magic." Navi explained, to which Zelda blinked in surprise.
After a couple of minutes, Link was still injured but recovered enough to put both sword and shield on his back. His footing was shaky, but he was able to get back up and looked to Zelda questioningly.
"Come, let's get you over to the stairs." Zelda instructed gently before moving over with one hand under Link's left arm to help steady him.
Thunder continued to rumble through the night sky, but other than that silence reigned as the three made their way across the exposed tower top. As they reached the stairs, Ganondorf suddenly took in a rattling breath that made them freeze. All three slowly looked back in shocked disbelief as the dark-skinned man slowly pushed himself up to one knee.
"No…" Ganondorf gasped as he looked down at the puddle of his own blood. "I am… Ganondorf…. The King… of Evil…" He forced out through clenched teeth. "Yet I am… to lose to some… nothing boy?" He muttered in disbelief before his head snapped up with a snarl. "No!" Ganondorf roared in denial as he brought his right fist up. The Triforce of Power flared brightly in response and all color drained from his eyes. "I shall not be denied! I shall not be felled by the likes of you!" He roared as his entire body started to glow.
Link's face tightened and then he broke away from Zelda, running towards Ganondorf while unsheathing the Master Sword.
Ganondorf shook in ever-growing rage as Link ran in and floated into the air. "RAAAWW!" He roared and the glow became a blinding light, obscuring everything.
As the light died down, heavy footsteps and loud, snorting breaths could be heard. Abruptly loud swooshing sounds were heard, followed by a loud clang of metal and a gasp of pained surprise from Link and then the thump of a body hitting the ground. The light completely faded in time for Zelda to see the Master Sword go flying into the distance, and she reacted quickly.
Zelda reached her hand towards the holy blade, which immediately froze before flying back to her waiting grasp. At the same time, Navi flew towards the down and panting Link. Once the Master Sword returned to her grasp, the princess turned and then froze at what awaited her.
Where there was once a dark, twisted man stood a hulking demon. Skin so blue as to be almost black was pulled taut over massive, well-defined muscles. White eyes glowed malevolently from a boar-like face, complete with large tusks, and topped with red hair that flowed past its shoulders. Powerful arms ended in huge hands, each one holding a sword larger than Link, and its muscular legs ended in hooves. It had a squat tail that helped with balance as it crouched down to a twenty-foot height, and each breath ended with a snort.
"The dark demon… Ganon…" Navi said softly before her attention was recaptured by Link's weak attempts to get up to his knees.
Ganon stared hatefully at its downed enemy, though when Zelda took a step forward to deliver the Master Sword it glared up at her. Instantly a cube of red, swirling energy sealed the combatants in a massive cage, making her hesitate.
Zelda's eyes quickly became focused as she adjusted her grip on the Master Sword and prepared to slash at the cube. Even before her first step, though, she hesitated. Shortly after that, her eyes narrowed and then closed completely. Sages, you must grant Link your aid once more! Zelda commanded emphatically.
"We cannot." Rauru responded tersely, making Zelda twitch in surprise. "We hath already given all we can. Any more and we shall not be able to seal this demon." He explained over a groaning howl of frustration from Darunia. "And as I believe you know, only the true wielder of the Master Sword would be able to cut through such magic." He warned just in case she wanted to try and attack it again.
Zelda shook with barely repressed emotion as Ganon's eyes returned to the struggling Link. "How can we have him fight this alone?" She asked as Link let out a pained gasp.
Ganon gave one more snort before taking a heavy step forward.
"You're not alone!" Navi cried out stubbornly and her words made Link freeze. "I couldn't help before, but I won't let anything hold me back this time. Remember, we're the only ones who can do this! Now get up, and let's finish this!" She ordered with a series of chimes.
Link closed his eyes and took in a deep breath that he slowly let out. As he did so, his face tightened in renewed determination and the Triforce of Courage began to glow again. Ganon's eyes flared in growing rage as Link forced himself to his feet, his body steady once more. The Hero of Time reached into his pouch to pull out the Megaton Hammer, which he held firmly in his left hand.
When his eyes opened, they almost seemed to be glowing as brightly from brave resolve as Ganon's were from determined malice.
"RRAAAAAWWW!" Ganon roared as it rushed in at Link, swords up in a defensive guard.
"HYAAA!" Link retorted as he closed in, grip tightening on the hammer.
As the two closed in, Zelda thrust the Master Sword into the stone floor and took a few steps back. Gloved hands folded together and blue eyes closed before she began murmuring as if in prayer.
Link narrowly spun under a double swipe from Ganon's swords and closed in to retaliate with a two-handed slam that the pig demon shifted to take on its right leg. The resulting impact released a shockwave that ruffled Link's clothes and earring, Ganon's hair, and almost knocked Navi from the air as she flew around the monstrous creature. However, it barely made the powerful leg flinch.
Link didn't even hesitate at that display of unnerving power but instead jumped up over Ganon's right arm as it came in to crush him. When he landed on the arm, immediately another strike was unleashed but this time at the porcine face. A quick movement brought the left sword in a block that unleashed a pure, clean tone with another shockwave. Burning blue glared into glowing white for a second before both let loose another battle cry.
As the two exchanged blows, Link being careful to stay in tight within Ganon's reach and the other trying to crush, slice, or even knock him back, Navi carefully yet quickly flew over every inch of the blue demon. After almost half a minute the blue fairy was back at Link's ear, chiming softly in excitement.
Link's eyes flared briefly before he threw himself back from Ganon's reach. As soon as as he landed the mighty being let out a roar and moved after him. The Megaton Hammer was put in the pouch and swift to his grasp was the Biggoron Sword. Blonde and fairy rushed in to the charging demon, and as all three closed in Ganon crossed his swords over his chest for a scissor strike.
Navi zoomed ahead and directly into its face as her light flared up momentarily, making Ganon instinctively flinch slightly. In that moment of inattention, Link dropped to his back while keeping his forward momentum and slid on the Mirror Shield between Ganon's legs. As he went past the powerful limbs, he slashed up with all of his enhanced strength and cut off the squat tail. "Hyaaa!"
"SQUUUEEE!" A squealing roar of agony burst from Ganon's maw. It kept up on suddenly shaky legs to slowly turn, greenish ichor dropping behind it, as the barrier flickered from existence.
After his slash, Link's body shifted in a single wave of motion that brought him up to his feet. He took several running steps to keep his balance and brought forth the Mirror Shield from his back. Link spun at the same time Ganon finished its turn, the two once again facing each other.
Almost in sync both Triforce pieces began to falter, and in response the two of them dropped to their knees. Despite that, the resolve never left Link's eyes and the malevolence never left Ganon's. With the thunder continuing to sound overhead and the returning glow of the Triforce pieces it almost seemed as if the two would be locked in combat for all time; the two pieces too evenly matched in their own ways.
A golden glow from behind Link caught them both by surprise, a glow that emanated from the final piece of the Triforce.
Zelda's blonde hair flared wildly and her blue eyes seethed with a cold fire that promised a final resolution to the conflict. Her right arm was held straight, palm out towards Ganon, with her left hand working to hold it steady against the sheer force of magic she was bringing to bear. No battle cry came from her, just a sharp exhalation as she released her spell that had been building since the barrier's construction. A beam of divine energy as wide as Zelda was tall shot forth and slammed into Ganon, getting a roar of surprised agony as it became a tight, ensnaring shroud. The Hylian Princess brought her right hand down sharply and in response Ganon was forced to a belly-down prone position with enough force to crack the stone.
"Rise up, Link! Take up the Master Sword and finish this!" Zelda commanded sharply, and such was the force of her presence that Link was on his feet before she had finished saying his name. He put the Biggoron Sword into his pouch and ran towards the implanted Master Sword.
Once he reached it, Link pulled the blade out and spun only to freeze. A blue glow shone from the sword and had his eyes widen in surprise. A loud roar took him from the moment as Ganon struggled mightily against its bonds; by the time Zelda opened her mouth again he was off in a green and gold blur.
Lightning flashed in the sky as Link, the young Hero of Time, thrust the Master Sword into the monstrous Ganon's face. The demon gave one last roar of protest that slowly died out as its hog-like face slowly slumped to the stone floor with a dull thud.
The Hero of Time looked down with a set and determined expression at the grotesque demon that Ganondorf had become as a final, desperate act to win for several, silent seconds before he slowly pulled the Master Sword out of its face as blood dripped down from his body. As it was being pulled out, the blood evaporated as it hit the air, leaving the blade clean of the demonic ichor.
"Link..." Zelda panted out softly as as sweat dripped from her forehead. "You... you did it..." She said with a smile as she started to walk toward him and Link blinked before he looked back at her as a small smile came to his face.
"Way to go, Link!" Navi exclaimed as she flew around Ganon to land on his shoulder.
Link gave a tired sigh as he sheathed the Master Sword and then put the Mirror Shield on his back.
Zelda was almost to him when he suddenly swooned and dropped to one knee, alarm flashing in her eyes as she quickly knelt beside him. "Link!" She yelled before she paused as Link struggled to open his pouch, the Golden Gauntlets gleaming weakly as he moved. "Here," She said as she started to reach for it when the tower suddenly shook. "W-what the?" Zelda asked in disbelief as she looked around before she noticed Ganon, one of its eyes gleaming with a malevolent light.
"It's Ganon!" Navi called out when she saw the same thing and immediately flew around the two of them rapidly. "We have to hurry, he's trying to bring the entire castle on top of us!" She said and Link's eyes narrowed before he forced himself to his feet, bringing Zelda up with him.
Zelda looked into his eyes uncertainly for a few seconds before the fire in them hardened her own determination. "Follow me!" She ordered and then quickly ran towards the stairs, moving far quicker than one would believe possible in a dress, with Link not far behind. Due to the injuries he had sustained, though, he found himself begin to trail behind slightly as Zelda passed through the doors into a hallway before she turned out of sight. "Kyaaa!" She suddenly screamed in panic and Link's eyes widened in alarm before he grit his teeth to pick up the pace while Navi flew ahead.
Link entered a large room littered with bones, armor, and blades and froze in shock as Zelda stood in the middle, imprisoned in a crystalline barrier. Ganondorf! How can he still have this much power remaining? His eyes narrowed as he heard a familiar, dry rustling.
"Link, the bones!" Navi called out in warning as the bones suddenly flew together to form a pair of Stalfos. "They're tied to the barrier, you have to destroy them to free Zelda!" She announced and Link nodded his head as he readied the Master Sword and Mirror Shield with a shaky breath while the room shuddered around them.
"Link, just get out of here!" Zelda called out but Link ignored her as he twirled his blade and held the shield out defensively, his eyes intense as he and the Stalfos carefully circled each other.
The stalemate came to an abrupt end as one of the Stalfos suddenly charged forward with a powerful thrust that would have easily passed through the armor of a Hylian Soldier, but Link blocked and easily held back the blow while he brought Master Sword out behind him; a blue aura emanating from the blade. "Watch out!" Navi called out in warning as the second Stalfos leaped high into the air to come down with a downward slash and Link's ears flicked once before the blue aura went red.
"Hyaaa!" Link roared as he went into a spin and the red aura swept out in a destructive circle that instantly vaporized the skeletal warriors, and immediately Zelda's prison disappeared with a flash of light. The green-clad warrior suddenly stumbled mid-spin and dropped to one knee as the room started to collapse around him, his breathing heavier.
"Link!" Zelda said as she ran over to help him up with a concerned expression as she took in his current state. She suddenly straightened as if realizing something, her eyes becoming distat at before refocusing. "There will be more traps like that waiting for us further down." She said and Link's eyes closed as he slumped in her grasp.
"We're not gonna make it like this!" Navi said as she rapidly flew around in circles before the two of them paused as Link suddenly stood up straight.
"We're going back the way we came." Link said as he freed himself, placing the sword and shield in place on his back.
"But Liiiiiink!" Zelda started to say when he suddenly picked her up, making her call out in surprise as he ran back out.
"Link, what's the plan?" Navi asked as she flew alongside him and he adjusted his grip to open his pouch one-handed, his grip now steady as a soft glow issued from his left hand, to pull out the Longshot. "I got it, just look for me!" She called out before taking off in a blue blur as they came out of the hallway back outside.
Link went halfway up the stairs and was going to stop in order to look around when the wall behind him suddenly collapsed towards him, giving him no choice but to jump. "Liiiiiiiiiink!" Zelda screamed as the two fell through the air towards the pit of lava that lay below the castle, the air ruffling their clothes and hair, before she closed her eyes and pulled herself against Link tightly. He ignored the scream and the hug as he focused his entire being on one thing, a small blue light far below them that came to a sudden stop. He brought the Longshot up and closed his left eye as he aimed a little below Navi before he pulled the trigger mechanism, releasing a hook attached to an unimaginable length of chain.
Zelda's grip tightened slightly as she readied herself for a bone-breaking impact when their momentum suddenly slowed before they came to a stop. "W-what..." She said as she slowly opened her eyes before her breath caught as they dropped again, only to land safely on the ground after a couple of feet. "H...how?" She asked as she looked at Link with wide eyes, but all he did was offer a small grin and then glance down at the ground. She followed his gaze before smiling when she saw a golden, winged trim that had appeared on his boots.
Behind him the castle continued to crumble and the lake of lava hissed angrily as huge chunks of the black stone fell into it, and he carefully put her down then walked over to the tree and leaned against it while Navi hovered worriedly beside him. "Finish... it..." Link gasped out as he shakily opened his pouch and Zelda nodded her head before she moved forward to stand at the edge of the sheer drop.
"Sages of Hyrule, the time has come!" Zelda yelled to the cloudy sky as she brought both hands up and a beam of pink light shot up from her to pierce the clouds. In answer to her call, six more pillars of light - red, green, blue, tan, purple, and yellow - appeared around the pit as the floating island that the castle rested on began to fall into the lava.
"This is for my Brothers!" Darunia, the massive and muscular Goron turned Sage of Fire, roared as he appeared within the red light and thrust his stone-like arms into the air.
"For the Kokiri!" Saria, the child-like Kokiri turned Sage of the Forest, said with quiet determination as she appeared within the green light raised her delicate arms up.
"The Zoras!" Ruto, the fish-like Zora Princess turned Sage of Water, declared imperiously as she appeared within the blue light pushed her firm arms to the sky, her fins fluttering with the motion.
"For the good of the Gerudos!" Nabooru, former thief and second-in-command of the Gerudos turned Sage of the Spirit, yelled fiercely as she appeared within the tan light, her tanned arms reaching for the heavens.
"For her Majesty." Impa, last of the Sheikah and skilled bodyguard of Zelda, now Sage of Shadows, said as she appeared within the purple light as she thrust her pale arms up high.
"For the goddesses." Rauru, the wise and ageless Sage of Light, said firmly as he appeared within the yellow light and brought both arms up in a sweeping gesture.
"Ganondorf, you are too dangerous to remain free." Zelda declared as she looked down at the melting patch of ground. "For your crimes against the goddesses and countless innocents, you are hereby sealed to the Dark Realm, now and for all eternity!" She intoned and all the Sages suddenly brought their hands together as if in prayer and the pillars of light disappeared before shooting towards the tower that still held Ganon while Link slowly sank to his knees as he succeeded in storing the Longshot and started to pull out a healing potion when he had to close his eyes as a bright flash of light filled the area.
When he could see again, he found Zelda, Darunia, Saria, Ruto, Nabooru, and Impa standing before him and looking at him in concern. Link offered them a triumphant grin in reply to their looks as he pulled out the red healing potion and closed the pouch.
"Link, hurry up and-" Navi was suddenly cut off as the ground behind Link shattered like glass and a large arm covered in black armor shot up to grab the back of his tunic.
"If I am to be sealed, then you shall come with me!" Ganondorf roared as he pulled in the stunned youth, knocking the healing potion from his grasp as they both fell into the black void.
"No!" All the Sages yelled at the same time as they ran to the hole and looked down in shock as Link and Ganondorf were swept towards the Dark Realm.
"Link!"
"Brother!"
All the of them shouted in horror and Link's eyes narrowed as he slowly closed his left hand into a fist and slammed it into his right palm, the two meeting in front of his torso. "Hup!" He called out as the two impacted and Ganondorf blinked as he looked at him in disbelief. "HYAAA!" Link roared as he tucked his arms to his sides and flames erupted from his entire body in an orb of fiery destruction.
The resulting explosion of power sent Link and Ganondorf spinning away from the vortex that lead to the Dark Realm and the Dark Lord quickly disappeared into the dark unknown.
"LINK!" Navi screamed in terror as she flew into the void while the Sages could only watch helplessly, their own magic depleted, and Link cast one final, terror-filled look as he extended his left hand out before he disappeared from sight. The blue fairy watched for several, long seconds before she gave out a sob and raced back to the already closing hole to Hyrule.
Silence reigned for several seconds as Rauru brought his arms down, letting that final image fade and allowing the aurora to swirl around them.
"That…" Zelda trailed off before bringing up her right hand to brush away a couple of tears. "That's why we felt that we had failed Link." She continued a few moments later. Her expression quickly brightened with a warm smile as she turned to regard Link, Erza, Natsu, Gray, Lucy, and Happy. "However, it's good to know that he arrived somewhere safely and was taken care of." Her words received agreeing nods from everyone else.
"About that. It would probably be more accurate to say he arrived somewhere safe instead of safely." Gray remarked coolly before running his right hand through his hair with a sigh. Everyone's eyes quickly went to him, most noticing the uncertain looks on Erza and Lucy as well as the reproving look Link was giving Gray. "Also…. how long has Link been gone?" He asked, arms crossing over his chest.
Zelda blinked in surprise at the question, uncertain as to how it could be in doubt. "He's been missing for a year and two months now." She answered and then paused at the reactions from the Fairy Tail Mages.
Link closed his eyes and let out a long, slow breath while Erza took in a sharp breath of surprise and Gray shook his head in disbelief.
Natsu and Lucy looked at each other in confused surprise while Happy just scratched his head in confusion with his left paw.
"What's wrong?" Darunia asked bluntly, his face cocked slightly as he regarded them.
Erza glanced at Link uncertainly for a few seconds before stepping forward when he simply took another breath, his ears twitching. "Link has been with us for a little over eight years; ever since he, Gray, and I were children." She said and received looks of shock in return. "Natsu and Happy joined Fairy Tail a couple of years later and Lucy joined not too long ago." While she talked, Erza gestured to the three as she named them.
Zelda looked on in shock for a few more seconds before her mind fully processed everything that had been said. "Link… have it truly been so long for you?" She asked softly, to which Link opened his eyes and nodded in confirmation. "Eight years… you must have felt we had abandoned you after such a length of time." She said regretfully but Link shook his head.
"Not at all." Erza said with a shake of her own head. "In fact, he has been trying to find a way back this entire time." She went on with a gentle smile.
Zelda swallowed softly at Erza's words before pausing as something else occurred to her. "Gray, what did you mean before about safe instead of safely?" She asked while looking at him questioningly. Her expression became apprehensive as she realized what he might be taking about. "He was a child, but what state was he in?" She went on and the others jerked slightly as they started to catch on.
"Gray." Link said, his tone matching the warning on his face as he looked at Gray sternly.
The Ice-Make Mage hesitated as he regarded Link before realizing the blonde was serious with his warning. Gray grunted and then put his hands in his pockets as he glanced away with an annoyed expression on his face.
Navi gave a soft chime as she moved to hover in front of her partner. "Link… were you still hurt?" She asked and Link's ears twitched once but otherwise didn't react to the question as he looked at her.
"Link…" Erza said softly and the blonde shifted to look at her. "I understand what you're doing, but don't you think it's worse to leave them guessing?" She asked, knowing he didn't want anyone to worry. Due to Gray's words though, it was already too late for that.
Link realized it too as he looked to the floor with a tight expression before nodding his head.
Erza turned to look at everyone from Hyrule as Navi drifted closer to the redhead. "Eight years ago, it seemed as if it would be a normal day in Fairy Tail. However, that changed when I heard a crashing sound and turned to see a boy rolling past the table he destroyed across the floor, leaving a long trail of blood behind him." A few gasps came from her words. "He somehow jumped to his feet and looked around in desperate confusion before dropping to a knee. Master Makarov, our Guild Master, went to go help him but stopped as the boy, battered and bloodied, forced himself to his feet." Erza's words became softer as she continued, her gaze distant as she recalled the day with perfect clarity. "He went into a stance I had assumed would activate a spell and rushed forward to knock him out." Link blinked at that and looked at her in mild surprise while others from Hyrule looked at her with wide eyes. "Once he was unconscious, Master took him to the medical room to clean and dress his injuries." Erza shook her head as she returned to the present to finally notice the look Link was giving her, prompting a questioning expression in return.
"That's right, we never did tell you about who knocked you out." Gray remarked with an amused grin. "Anyways, he was out for about a week and when he woke up ate enough food to make up for lost time." A giggle from Saria echoed the lightening mood Gray started to build. "After that, he and Master went to talk and Link ended up joining." He finished, but a sound of amusement from Erza had everyone looking at her.
Erza had a bemused smile as she looked at Gray. "As I recall, you objected to him joining at first." She said and Gray locked up as he started to get looks of disbelief.
"What!?" Natsu demanded and set off a series of winces and ear flicks.
"Gray, why would you be against Link joining?" Happy demanded, his right paw pointing at him accusingly.
"He just showed up like that and ya wanted to send him packing?" Malon demanded, her eyes flashing and ears twitching in rising anger.
"I don't remember why!" Gray cut in with his hands up in surrender as more people started to get on his case. "For some reason I was in a bad mood that day and I was just a kid! It's not like my opinion would've changed the old man's decision once he agreed to take someone in." He went on and the fact that Natsu, Happy, and Lucy started to calm down at that simple truth helped to defuse the tension.
"Besides, it's not like I asked him to try and flood the city to prove he could do magic." Gray went on once everyone had calmed down.
"Link did what!?" Talon shouted out and everyone looked at the blonde with open-mouthed surprise.
Link scratched his left cheek as he looked to the side in embarrassment.
"Oh yes, he decided to play the Song of Storms." Erza confirmed with a smile and a nod. "Although he was eventually pulled from his playing and realized the size of the storm he had summoned." She went on with a light-hearted glare at her partner. "Luckily, the Sun's Song was able to clear it up, but the drain rendered him unconscious again."
Navi let out a soft chime but was otherwise silent after that last sentence.
"Even that, though, didn't prepare the guild for what had landed on us." Gray said as he crossed his arms over his chest. "It wasn't until he had fully recovered and chose his first job that we started to get an idea." He said with a sigh and shake of his head.
"Ooh! Can we watch that?" Reso asked as he thrust his right hand into the air. Everyone looked at him in surprise at the question before several questioning looks went to Rauru.
"It is possible, if Link will permit being used as an anchor to locate the event." Rauru confirmed, to which Link offered a small shrug and then nodded in agreement.
Link walked over to Rauru when the other motioned for him to get closer, stopping within easy reach, and waited patiently.
The Sage of Light brought both hands up to Link's temples and then closed his eyes in concentration. The blonde remained motionless while everyone watched, Natsu occasionally twitching restlessly along with Happy and the three Kokiri.
After several seconds, Rauru's eyes reopened and he stepped back. "It is done. My thanks, Hero." He said with a nod that Link returned. After the exchange Rauru turned and brought his arms up, eyes closing once more as he focused on the time found in Link's mind. His arms came up with a flourish and the rainbow aurora swirled together.
Everyone watched as the images of that long-ago day started with young Link walking up to the counter where the short, elderly Makarov sat with a stein of alcohol in his hand. Relief at the sight of the healthy Link was only equaled by surprise at his young state in Zelda's eyes. However, when the Guild Master suddenly sprayed the blonde with his drink she and others blinked twice in surprise.
Makarov's heated denial had everyone from Hyrule looking at Link in surprise for his choice to hunt down a demon. The building confrontation and Link's refusal to back down, though, quickly recaptured their attention.
Young Gray's arrogant declaration earned him a few disbelieving and amused looks that he shrugged off, though he did wince slightly at young Link's casual dodge that had sent him sprawling to the ground.
The force of Erza's glare as she talked to Link had Mido, Reso, and Soso take an involuntary step back while Talon's eyes shifted to Malon for a few seconds. Link's uncompromising glare, though, continued to raise the tension until Erza's comment about the payment turned Link's stubbornness to confusion.
The fire burning in Link's eyes after Makarov realized the villagers in danger were what had drawn the blonde's attention to the job took the elderly mage and young Erza aback. However, the blonde had obviously said all he had cared to as Link turned to walk to the door when Erza and Makarov continued to talk.
Navi let out a series of amused chimes when Makarov threatened that Link wouldn't get paid if he just left, a reaction shared by almost everyone else with laughter. "Great way to deter him. You guys really had no idea who Link was, did you?" The fairy asked, a smirk in her tone, but before Erza or Gray could answer the images showed young Link just narrowly avoiding an attack from young Erza.
Everyone watched, curious, as the young redhead attempted to bargain with young Link, this time with combat, but once again the blonde proved intractable. Even as they watched, the more experienced fighters took note as she prepared to try and beat him down to prevent him from leaving while the rest of Fairy Tail circled around them.
However, an intent Makarov stopped the coming clash with a word as he walked up to Link with a new understanding in his dark eyes.
Zelda couldn't help but wince slightly at young Link's confusion about his own safety while facing a demon. Her eyes then tightened at his own inability to put a number to the times he had almost died. Link... She thought sadly with a glance towards him but remained silent.
Erza's arms crossed under her chest and she glanced to the side in mild embarrassment as Makarov named his terms for allowing Link to leave on the job. Everyone from Hyrule looked at her in surprise at being held as a gateway before returning their attention to the coming clash.
Eyes went wide when young Link unleashed Din's Fire after narrowly blocking Erza's attack, sending the girl flying back with a scream of pain. Before anything could be said, though, their mouths dropped when she backflipped and then landed heavily but in control on her feet.
"Amazing..." Navi said and Rauru brought his hands down to still the image of Link and Erza walking off together.
"Why? It was just another win for Link." Goron Link commented and got several nods of agreement from all around and an embarrassed wince from Erza. However everyone paused when Navi gave a disagreeing chime.
"You all don't understand. As we traveled, Link and I were in fight after fight. At some points we would finish one fight just to be thrust into another one." Navi said as she went into a slow circle that took her by everyone. "Over time, Link gained the habit to use just enough to finish the fight to better his chances of winning another one that might be around the corner." She went in before stopping in front of Erza. "For him to use Din's Fire like that means he saw that you had a chance to stop him from going to help people." The blue fairy finished and Erza's eyes widened slightly.
To her, that fight had always indicated a gap in ability she had spent years working to overcome. Never before had she considered the shortness of it to mean that Link had known he couldn't afford to hold back. Especially with how effortlessly he had seemed to hold back both her and Mirajane at bay a couple of years later.
"Another child prodigy with the blade, one to even make Link wary..." Nabooru mused as she looked at Erza speculatively, her right hand coming up to cup her chin.
"If I may, I would like to clarify a few things before we continue." Zelda said and Link looked at her curiously. "From what I saw, this Fairy Tail takes on requests of varying difficulty in return for payment, correct?" She asked and received a nod in return. "Are there other Mage Guilds in Fiore?" Another nod followed her question. "I see... so Makarov's refusal was due mainly to the knowledge that another would likely choose to take on this request and be able to help those villagers." Zelda determined with an approving nod. "Rauru, please continue."
The Light Sage swept his arms back and closed his eyes as he determined the best spot to continue. This time it only took a couple of seconds before his eyes reopened and the images shifted to the young duo cautiously walking into a massive cave. The ensuing fight and teamwork took everyone's breath away, particularly when the massive Asag started its involuntary slide down the mountainside.
Navi let out a sharp chime when young Link was snapped up in one bite from the stony demon, but cheers came out when the Asag's head fell from its body after the swirl of energy erupted from its neck. They watched as young Erza ran towards an equally tired and battered Link, but their expressions went from gentle smiles to confusion as they saw her expression shift from concern to a building rage as young Link put away his equipment.
"What the-!?" Almost everyone yelped as young Link was sent flying from a strong right hook from young Erza. The look on his face as the redhead stated her threat showed he fully believed her capable of carrying out such a beating, even after everything he had endured.
"After that job, Link and I became partners and began to train and work together." Erza said as the images faded with her and Link being taken back to the village on horseback. Even as she received several looks of surprised disbelief at her statement, a sharp chime kept everyone quiet.
Navi fluttered back towards Erza to hover a couple of feet in front of her. "You're his partner?" She asked softly and the redhead nodded her head. "So you've been looking out for and taking care of him?"
Erza blinked at the second question before she closed her eyes and shook her head with a small smile. "No," she said as her eyes opened back up. "We've been taking care of each other." Her clarification garnered smiles from all around and a soft chime from the fairy.
"Erza... you have my thanks and my condolences." Navi said, and her dry tone got several looks of surprise even as the Requip Mage gave a long-suffering sigh.
"It's nice to meet someone who can understand how stressful it can be. For the longest time it seemed Link truly had no concept of self-preservation and the importance of recovery." Erza said and Link's ears flicked in annoyance.
"Wait, are you saying he'll actually take the time to fully recover now?" Navi asked with a surprised chime. "How did you manage that?" She asked while slowly bobbing up and down in the air.
"Well, it took time and convincing but he eventually saw things my way. Although he occasionally still needs a reminder." Erza said with a sharp glance at Link, who started to open his mouth to protest before pausing and then glancing away sheepishly.
"Yeah, he eventually realized getting knocked out is bad for his health." Gray remarked with a wry smirk.
Link shot him a weak glare but truthfully he couldn't deny Gray's words. His silence prompted loud laughter from Darunia, which garnered more as others recovered from the Ice-Make Mage's statement.
Before the redhead and fairy could continue, Zelda delicately cleared her throat to get everyone's attention. "I believe we have accomplished our original purpose in coming to the Chamber of Sages." The Hylian Queen remarked, though there was no censure and even some amusement at the conversation she had interrupted. "Before we depart... there is something I would like to ask." Zelda hesitated momentarily before closing her eyes and taking a breath.
When her eyes opened back up, everyone was surprised to see trepidation reflected in them as they sought a pair of brown eyes. "Erza, you have known Link for eight years, ever since he arrived in Fiore, correct?" Zelda asked and received a nod in reply. "You said that he had not stopped looking for a way to return to Hyrule during that time?" She went on and this time Erza studied her curiously, trying to figure out where this was going.
"That is correct." Erza finally replied while Link watched with the same intent expression as he also tried to figure out what Zelda was building up to.
"During that time... did he have a childhood?" Zelda asked, a question that got her looks of surprise and confusion. "You all saw what Link endured... what he was forced to sacrifice for the good of all. The idea that he had a second chance at a childhood, perhaps not as innocent as most but still a chance to grow and experience things not through a lens of desperate need... I... I pray he took the chance to recover some of what he had lost." She finished softly, guilt and hope on her face, and Link looked at her in wide-eyed surprise.
"All I had was a purpose. I was to find a way to return to Hyrule… and help people along the way. That was all I had… all that mattered."
Erza's eyes widened slightly as Link's words echoed through her mind before fading. "When he arrived, all Link cared about was finding a way back and helping others." The redhead admitted as she looked at Zelda. "In truth I thought his desire to help others a noble thing, though his inability to consider his own well-being was infuriating." She went on and though Zelda winced slightly her eyes remained fixed on Erza. "After a couple of months, I finally worked up the nerve to ask him something." A gentle, nostalgic smile came to her.
"What was it?" Zelda asked after the redhead had remained silent for several seconds.
Erza blinked before she brought her right hand up and Requipped the Fairy Ocarina. "I asked if he would be willing to teach me to play the ocarina." She said while looking at it fondly.
Saria's eyes widened slightly as she looked at the instrument before a bright smile came to her.
"Some time after that, I realized that for all of the time we had spent together I didn't truly know much about Link beyond his skill, stubbornness, and kind nature." Erza continued as she Ex-Equipped the Fairy Ocarina. "I had no idea what to do, but after some research I found out that bathing together can help people get closer."
Gray and Natsu both sighed as everyone else but Happy, Rauru, Impa, the Kokiri, and the Gorons looked at Erza in wide-eyed surprise.
The Gerudos' surprise quickly shifted to amusement as they glanced at each other and shared soft giggles.
The surprise felt by Ruto came more from her understanding of Hylian culture and bathing together. From the look on Lucy's face it was similar in Fiore, but Link was raised a Kokiri and Erza seemed ignorant of it as well.
Malon's face was red, as was Talon's and Ingo's, but remained silent as she waited to hear what had resulted.
"So that's when you... wait." Zelda started to say with a small blush before pausing. "Didn't you say that was when you first saw the scar from Dark Link? Link retained it on his younger body?" She asked incredulously.
"Indeed." Erza confirmed with a nod of her head. "I..." She trailed off and glanced to the side, right hand coming up momentarily to her eye, before quickly returning her attention to the queen. "That was when I first learned of Link's desire to find a way back to Hyrule." Erza picked back up, the flash of shame in her eyes was gone so quick that most didn't even notice it.
Zelda was one of the few who did but decided to ask about it later.
"Not long after that..." Erza trailed off before a warm smile came to her. "Master got through to Link." She said and Zelda's eyes shimmered with hope. "Rauru, can you use me as an anchor?" Erza asked, feeling that this was something that would help ease the blonde royal's guilt.
Rauru, sensing the same, nodded his head before walking towards her and placed his hands against her temples. After several seconds the Ancient Sage brought his hands down and stepped back, his eyes reopening as he did so.
"Princess Ruto, this takes place during a seasonal moment called winter." Erza said when she noticed Link looking at the Zoras in concern. "It will appear similar to the curse that befell your people." The Requip Mage explained to the imperiously questioning look she received.
Amethyst eyes flared in surprise before quickly turning contemplative. "I believe we can handle just an image, provided it is indeed a natural occurrence from your land." Ruto declared and Nojam nodded at her words.
The two soldiers shared a quick glance but remained silent, loyal to their captain and princess.
Once Rauru returned to his previous position, he brought both arms up. The rainbow aurora swirled together to show a young Link asleep in a large kitchen, curled under a green comforter. Several men and women glanced at him with amused affection as they worked around in preparing the kitchen for a day of cooking while Makarov stood before him. His expression was equal parts amused and exasperated but the elderly mage remained silent.
A loud scream of denial from right outside the door brought Link upright in a flash, his eyes looking around quickly. When he saw a startled Makarov looking at the door, his posture relaxed before he stretched his arms up and gave a long yawn.
Young Erza's scolding was cut short with a gesture from Makarov, who then continued to question him in a calmer manner. Shortly after the reason for his apparent break-in was found out to be due to the cold Erza proceeded to scold him anew, much to the amusement of the onlookers. That amusement quickly faded as Makarov walked out with young Link, Erza, Gray, and Cana to see the snow and ice through the destroyed doorway of the Guild House.
The Zoras locked up slightly and fins fluttered momentarily in time with young Link's rush to the door. Their eyes, along with everyone else's from Hyrule to include Impa and Rauru, widened to varying degrees as Makarov's left arm lengthened in size to reach out and grab the back of Link's shirt and reel him in. Despite a demand to calm down his blue eyes still burned with determination, and a blow to a pressure point on the old man's hand had Naiteri's eyes glitter with pride at the accurate strike.
Shortly after Link landed on the ground, several mouths dropped as Makarov's other hand came down in a hammerfist as large as a standing Goron. The Fairy Tail Guild Master, despite his grumbling and way he shook his still numb hand, carefully scooped up the now unconscious Link and carried him to a nearby table.
"This is surprisingly cathartic." Navi commented with a brief chime that earned her an annoyed glance from Link.
The new images shifted and reformed to show Link and Erza walking out of a brick building, the blonde now in a green winter coat and pants. After a brief exchange the two appeared as if they were about to argue, both glaring fiercely at each other. It wasn't long, though, before they both started laughing softly at something only they understood about their exchange.
Zelda's eyes widened slightly when Link laughed, for at that moment he almost seemed just another child. All too soon, though, the laughter was over, but a challenge of who would pay for whose drink spurred them into a race.
"'Don't take that tone of look with me'?" Malon repeated, her dry tone getting laughter and other sounds of amusement.
"Well, this is the guy you can have a complete conversation with even if he doesn't say a word." Lucy said with a sigh as she recalled her 'discussion' with him at a spa in Hosenka Town. More laughter sounded after that while Link just offered a small shrug in response, setting off another round.
Everyone petered off when the redhead and blonde ran into a young Gray, who threw a snowball that Link narrowly avoided.
The four Kokiri let out a sharp gasp as they saw the cap knocked from Link's head. "Oh I hope you knew to run." Soso remarked, to which Gray's right eye twitched as he crossed his arms over his chest.
"Why?" Malon asked before her attention was recaptured by the sight of Link pushing an ever-growing ball of snow. His path took him around a building and out of sight of a confused Erza and Gray as they tried to figure out where he had gone. As the snowball became more of a snow boulder, surprise came to dominate the rancher's face.
It was nothing compared to the utter shock on young Gray's face, though, as Link picked up the snow boulder as if it was nothing. The glare he leveled at Gray promised no mercy before he uttered his warning regarding his cap.
"Because Link's very protective of the cap Saria made for him." Reso explained as they watched Link put his cap on while a dazed Gray slowly emerged from the large pile of snow. "Remember the Deku Scrub that managed to knock it off?" He asked his brother and Soso winced in response.
The two went silent after that as the three kids explained to Makarov what had happened to the now bandaged Gray amongst the noise and bustle of Fairy Tail. When young Cana made her offer to show them how to have fun in the snow, Link shook his head and went towards a large board with papers pinned to it.
Makarov's casual question of his urgency had him turning around with an implacable expression that made Zelda's ears flick.
Young Link's simple response had young Erza looking down sadly while young Gray and Cana looked on in confusion. Makarov's words of taking time to build memories had Zelda holding her breath hopefully, only to let it out in soft disappointment when the young blonde's expression didn't budge.
However, Erza's earnest request to play for just one day finally had Link relent with a small smile. At his nod, a smile came to Erza as well, one that became a glare at Gray's teasing words.
What followed was a series of moments, no more than a few minutes each, that showed the four kids playing. At first uncertain and wary, Link grew more confident in snowball fights, sledding, making snow angels, and other games. Before long, he was laughing along with the other three. Perhaps not as loudly, but certainly with as much delight.
A smile came to Zelda's face at the sound, but all too quickly to her the images shifted to the four back at the Fairy Tail Guild Hall and talking about their day. When young Erza confirmed Cana's question about getting back to work the following day, Zelda closed her eyes with an internal sigh. It wasn't much, but-
"I… I… would like to play some more tomorrow…"
Zelda's eyes snapped open to see the young hero looking into his drink uncertainly, embarrassed by his request. The other three kids looked at him in surprise, clearly unused to him speaking up.
Erza's surprised expression shifted to a gentle smile. "That sounds fun." She agreed readily and Link looked up at her with a small smile before enjoying more of his drink.
Zelda continued to watch that spot for several seconds after the images faded away, swallowed by the returning aurora, while everyone else waited for her reaction. Finally she closed her eyes and took a shaky breath while the tips of her ears vibrated. Tears welled in her eyes as they reopened, but rather than fall they enhanced the relief and joy sparkling in their blue depths. Hyrule's Queen walked over to Erza, who looked at her uncertainly when she gently took her hands.
"Thank you." Zelda said with a grateful smile as she looked into Erza's eyes. "Thank you for letting him recapture what destiny had stolen from him." She said while recalling the scolding, light-hearted teasing, and other typical childhood interactions that had been shown.
Erza's eyes widened slightly before she recovered and shook her head. "I only did what he did for me." She said with a smile, but her statement only made Zelda's smile grow while everyone smiled as well.
Well, viewing Link's past is complete and now time to move forward. I understand this hasn't been a lot of people's favorite arc, but I thought it would be a good way to not just get the Erza and the others caught up but also some fun interactions to break the ice between the different groups. I could have done a hand-wave and *poof* they had all just talked about it and now everyone's on the same page, but it didn't feel right to me. Apologies to those who thought it was just to have everyone go "Wow!" every five seconds, but that was more a natural byproduct of what they were seeing than the actual goal. Was there a better way to do this than what I did? Most likely, but to be honest had I just done it as storytelling instead of viewing it would have been more or less the same; except probably throwing in even more of Link's side quests since Navi would have been more thorough in my opinion than select moments to view.
Also, I have a complaint for a few people.
Ikki, Rune Magus, Doomsday's Hero, Kaiser Dragon, Intotheunknown, Guest-sama, and KongKing94.
You bastiches convinced me to look into Indivisible and even give it a try. I now have a post Majora's Mask/Indivisible story in my head that I'm planning and have a chapter all but done. I hate you and thank you, lol.
Thanks to Vandbenz for being my beta reader.
I hope everyone enjoyed the chapter.
Till next time.