Chapter Forty-One
Zelda, Impa, Malon, Ruto, Lucy, Nabooru, Aveil, Naiteri, and Irim looked at Erza in wide-eyed shock. Talon and Ingo were blinking rapidly in surprise, Nojam and his men mildly speculative, while the Gorons and Kokiri looked hardly bothered by the announcement.
"W-what did you say?" Zelda got out, stammering slightly in the beginning of her question.
Link and Erza both looked at her curiously while Gray and Natsu let out small sighs, small blushes on their faces. "I saw his scar the first time we bathed together." Erza repeated, not sure about the reactions her words had caused.
Everyone was silent for several moments before Saria stepped forward. "Zelda, what's wrong with them taking a bath?" She asked while looking up at the Hylian Queen and Leader of the Sages curiously as several pairs of eyes snapped to Saria in surprise at her question. "Do adults always bathe alone? That sounds boring." Saria commented with a sigh and shake of her head.
"Adults get worked up over the dumbest things." Mido agreed with a sigh of annoyance and got nods of agreement from Reso and Soso.
"Hey, don't lump us Gorons in like that. We don't know what the big deal is either." Darunia put in, his tone close to annoyance but also showing his agreement with the Kokiri's stance on the matter.
Ruto, Nojam, and his men were hardly bothered by such a thing as well, but their knowledge of Hylian customs caused them to be surprised by the revelation as well.
Of course… he was raised by the never-aging Kokiri. Zelda realized before holding back a wince. Not only that… but his mind… Her thoughts trailed off before looking back at Erza. The redhead had also seemed to be shocked at the revelation of Link's mindset, but her nonchalant disregard made her wonder if it was as common for people from Fiore as it was for the Kokiri. A quick glance at Lucy told her otherwise, but as much as she wanted to know now was not the time to question it. "Rauru, please continue." Zelda eventually requested and offered a sharp glance at anyone who opened their mouths to argue. "We are here for one purpose. All else shall wait until that purpose has been fulfilled." She commanded, and the sheer authority and presence of her tone had everyone subside.
Link and Erza continued to be a little confused by the reactions to them bathing together but said nothing as Rauru raised his arms up.
"Release me you red blob!" Ruto's voice echoed sharply while Link and Navi walked down a beautifully carved hallway. Link's eyes widened slightly before he readied his sword and shield to rush into the entryway. When the two ran in, they both froze at what awaited them.
The ornately decorated blue room was large, a one-hundred-foot cube with a square pool in the center filled with a thick, gelatinous-like liquid. Several pillars were set in the pool that could work as stepping-stones. However, what immediately caught their attention was the struggling figure held on the far side of the pool.
"Ruto!" Link called out as Navi chimed twice in rapid succession and the Zora Princess's gaze immediately snapped over to them.
"Link!" Ruto replied, her eyes filled first with happiness and then concern. "Be careful, the source of the curse is here!" She called out in warning as the liquid swirled and went up like a tentacle. A soccer ball-sized red blob swirled up into the limb and Ruto's eyes narrowed with rage and disgust. "Morpha!" She spat out before the liquid rippled out to gag her.
Link's eyes narrowed slightly as Ruto struggled against the gag with a look of indignation before returning his attention to Morpha. Without warning the tentacle shot out towards him. He narrowly got his shield up and squared his stance in time to block. "Guh!" The blue-clad blonde grunted as he slid back a few feet before holding firm.
As soon as the pressure let off, Link retaliated with the Master Sword and cleaved through the tentacle. The last two feet of it collapsed with a thick splash and a deep rumble echoed from Morpha that had the entirety of the body of water ripple. Even as Link prepared to press the attack the limb reformed and arched upwards like a stinger, making him pause and blink in surprise.
"Link, you need to attack Morpha's main body!" Navi advised and Link's ears flicked before he jumped to the right to avoid another attack from the water tentacle. "It will just reform the water if we damage the tentacle again… we need to find some way to get it out!" She went on without missing a beat.
Link let out a small sound of agreement before being forced to block a sideswipe from the tentacle. While he was holding that one off, however, another quickly formed and lashed out at him in another wide arc.
"Watch out!" Navi tried to warn, but Link's focus was still on holding back the first tentacle when the second wrapped around and threw him into the nearby wall.
"Gah!" Link coughed up some blood with the impact, but after a second's hesitation was on the move again to avoid a scissor attack from the two tentacles. A couple of seconds later Link put the shield on his back and then cut through one tentacle before backflipping over the other as it swung in at him from the opposite side. As he landed, the blue-clad blonde reached into his pouch with his right hand and quickly pulled out the Longshot before having to flip and dodge around four water tentacles trying to ensnare him.
As he dodged the last one Link brought the Longhot up and took aim at the twirling red blob inside the water before pulling the trigger. The small hook shot out and punctured through the gelatinous water to sink into Morpha's body. A rumbling growl caused all the water to ripple in protest before the Longshot hauled it right in to Link.
A loud squeal issued from Morpha this time as the Master Sword cut it in half with one swift strike and the water immediately returned to normal and allowed Ruto to move around freely within the pool.
The Zora Princess twirled in the water and flitted about before taking off towards a panting but happily smiling Link. She performed a graceful leap into the air and did a single flip before landing lightly on her feet before him and Navi.
"I see you finally decided to stop playing around and get here to save me." Ruto said as she crossed her arms across her chest. She paused, however, at the look of pain that flashed through Link's eyes before sighing and looking to the side. "Still, the important thing is that this creature is dead and my people shall be freed from that curse." Ruto swallowed as a hint of blue darkened her cheeks slightly before freezing in surprise.
Link looked at her in surprise as she seemed to struggle with a decision for half a minute before sighing.
"Very well, Rauru… I shall accept your offer." Ruto eventually said with a reluctant nod and the three of them were surrounded in a blue light.
"I offered Link my blessing, which naturally he accepted." Ruto said as the images faded. "After that I offered him reassurance that while I had not seen Zelda, something told me that she was indeed still alive and well." She went on with a hint of pain that flashed in her eyes before quickly disappearing.
Link's eyes tightened slightly in response for an instant but remained silent, for anything said now would only embarrass the Zora Princess.
"After that, Link, Epona, and I left and went back towards Kakariko Village to try and figure out what to do next." Navi went on to bring attention away from Ruto and received a small smile that only Zelda, Nojam, and Erza noticed. "Little did we know, the answer would be found right there." She said as the aurora came together.
Smoke billowed up in thick plumes as Link, his tunic and cap now green, ran past dozens of people up the stairs of a mountain pass to the entrance into Kakariko Village with Navi flying swiftly beside him. Epona had been left at the pass, too large to be ridden through without possibly hurting everyone streaming out and clearly unhappy with it. Building fires helped illuminate the path but both of them ignored the looks of surprise and hope they received as they moved in, intent on finding the source of the flames. Within seconds they cleared the stairs and were past the wooden gate, only to stop in surprise upon seeing Sheik standing ready for battle as he faced the well in the middle of the village.
"Link, stay back!" Sheik ordered sharply as he thrust his right hand out. "This is a foe you are not ready to face!" He instructed right before the ground shook as a loud boom made him and Link wince while working to keep their balance.
"What's going on?" Navi demanded even as Link readied the Master Sword and his battered shield.
"An ancient evil sealed by my people has been unleashed. You must fall back now and let me handle it!" Sheik insisted before the thunderous sound came again and the ground shook, but this time the sound of shattering accompanied it. The Sheikah and Hylian were better prepared for it this time and seemed to barely notice the noise.
A low, guttural roar filled the air before the water in the well shot up like a geyser, to which Link and Sheik both reacted in surprise while Navi let out a sharp chime.
Sheik's gaze, however, quickly shifted to the right as if tracking something while Link continued to look at the geyser in surprise. The red-eyed blonde's right hand flicked a few times, and each time a thin throwing knife seemed to just appear from his forearm wrappings. He let out a quick exhalation as the four knives were thrown and the motion immediately drew Link's gaze.
The Hero of Time blinked and ears flicked in surprise when the knives hit the air before scattering apart. A low roar filled the air in response and Sheik leapt to his right, but while in midair he suddenly stopped as if grabbed by something.
Sheik let out a restrained grunt before wincing as his arms pressed in more tightly to his sides before he was tossed to the side. "Gah!" He cried out in pain as he slammed through the white wall of the nearby house. More slamming and crashing sounds could be heard a second later, but Link was already charging at the location where Sheik had been held.
"Hyaa!" Link yelled as he jumped up and slashed down at the spot, only to blink in surprise as he landed on the ground without encountering anything. His ears suddenly flicked and his eyes went to the side before he jumped back, only to spin in the air as if something had clipped him.
"Link!" Navi called out in alarm as he let out a restrained gasp of surprise before landing on his feet.
Link looked around desperately, trying to figure out what was going on, before pausing as his ears flicked. He immediately spun ninety degrees to his left with a strong slash only to hit air. The miss made him blink in surprise before his ears flicked again and he looked up just in time to be smashed onto his back, the ground cracking with the impact. "Kah!" Blood sprayed from his mouth and settled on the air, or rather something invisible that had crushed him down.
Link grit his teeth and tightened his weakened grasp on the Master Sword as he tried to strike back, only to be picked up and then thrown into a nearby stone foundation. The blonde cracked the stone and then dropped to the ground in an unconscious, bloody, and broken heap as Navi swiftly flew over to him.
Another guttural roar sounded as Sheik slowly walked out of the building, somehow without injury, and his gaze tracked the unseen being as it destroyed several more buildings before eventually looking around. When he saw an agitatedly chiming Navi flying around the unconscious Link, his eye went wide before he quickly ran over to the green-clad blonde.
"Do you have a healing potion!?" Navi demanded as the blonde Sheikah dropped to his knees at Link's side.
"I do not… and this may be beyond healing potions." Sheik replied with concern showing despite most of his face being covered as he took in the blood coming from Link's mouth and nose. His face tightened before he started to bring up his hands, only to hesitate and look up at the blue fairy.
"What!?" Navi demanded angrily at the look, terrified at the thought of losing Link after going through so much.
Sheik shook his head in reply before closing his eye and taking a deep breath. He swiftly sent his hands through a series of different motions and signs while softly chanting, and after a few seconds brought his hands down on Link's chest. A soft, golden glow issued from his hands and pulsed over Link gently, who at first twitched violently before relaxing into its soothing embrace.
"What… what are you doing?" Navi asked in a calmer tone as she watched Link's body slowly begin to recover.
"I am using an ancient Sheikah art to heal Link." Sheik replied as his eye opened to track the technique's progress. "Navi… he will go and face this spirit regardless of my words." He stated and Navi let out a resigned chime. "He is… more stubborn than the Princess had spoken of." Sheik ventured and this time got an amused chime.
"That's because she's the one he made a promise to." Navi answered and Sheik swallowed softly. "My partner is truly the most stubborn being I've come across… so stubborn that sometimes I think even death has become exasperated with him." She went on with a fond amusement tinged with resignation. "But he won't stop. No… it's more he can't stop. There's something that drives him and keeps him pushing forward. He's too brave and determined for his own good." Navi paused before she looked at bandaged-covered blonde. "Sheik… you and the Princess know what's on his hand, don't you?" She asked softly and Sheik hesitated before eventually nodding.
Link blinked in surprise at the exchange before glancing at a slightly blushing Zelda and then up at Navi.
"What? You didn't think your own stubbornness healed those injuries without a twinge of pain, did you?" Navi asked with an amused chime and Link hesitated before offering a sheepish shrug as laughter echoed around them.
"Link had no more healing potions?" Erza asked in mild surprise, for she had rarely seen him without some way to heal himself or others. Then again, he had been learning from Porlyusica shortly after he arrived. She recalled with a quick blink of realization.
"After his encounter with… Dark Link, Link had collapsed while drinking his last bottle and ended up spilling most of it. We had been planning to restock at Kakariko Village." Navi explained and, although almost everyone looked a little shaken by that reminder, they nodded their heads in understanding. "After Link recovered, Sheik eventually told us of a way to be able to see the freed demonic spirit, Bongo Bongo. Typically, it would involve years of training to gain the ability to "see the unseen", but there was someone who had created a magical item that would allow someone to gain it instantly. There was just one problem." Navi said and everyone but the Sages and Link looked at her curiously. "It had gone missing seven years prior." Her explanation got several sighs of disappointment, although Erza, Gray, Aveil, and Nojam studied her intently.
Then why mention it? They all wondered curiously as the aurora swirled back together.
Link and Sheik stood just outside the chamber that held the Pedestal of Time within the Temple of Time while Navi hovered over her partner's left shoulder.
"Link, with the Master Sword and Ocarina of Time you can go back to when you were a child and retrieve the Lens of Truth." Sheik instructed and Link looked over at him sharply in surprise. "While holding the ocarina, you must place the sword back in the pedestal and you will return to a moment after you removed it. Two days after Ganondorf returned with the Triforce of Power, a massive storm occurred that shielded those fleeing from Castle Town to Kakariko Village. Due to the powerful winds, the well was drained by the windmill in preparation to prevent it from overflowing due to the heavy rains. That would be the best moment without risk of drowning to enter the chambers that hold the Lens of Truth." He went on and Link nodded his head before pausing.
"No, Link, there's nothing we can do to stop Ganondorf at that point." Navi said and Link looked up at her intently. "We don't stand a chance without the Master Sword, and I think it's safe to assume that pulling it out will send us back to now." She said and Sheik nodded in confirmation.
Link looked away unhappily before finally nodding in agreement with their reasoning. He walked up to the pedestal while taking out the Ocarina of Time and then unsheathed the Master Sword when he stood in front of it. He looked down at the pedestal uncertainly for a few seconds before taking a deep breath and bringing the sword up. "Ha!" He exhaled sharply and then plunged the blade back down into it with a single, swift motion. Light erupted from the Pedestal of Time as the Master Sword was firmly placed, pure and blinding in its radiance as it engulfed Link and Navi.
When the light faded, it showed Link as a child once more and Navi there with Sheik nowhere in sight. The ten-year old looked down at his body in surprise as he clenched and opened his hands up before a familiar determination tightened his features. He reached into his pouch and pulled out the Ocarina of Time and brought it to his mouth.
Doo doo du du du du doooo
Link swayed slightly to the Nocturne of Shadow, and after a few seconds was enveloped in a dark purple light that shattered into dozens of orbs.
"After we arrived in the Kakariko Graveyard, we decided to wait by the windmill for the storm that Sheik had mentioned." Navi picked up as the image faded away, but it took some time for everyone but the Sages, Link, and Navi to recover from their surprise. "However, as time went on and the sky remained cloudless, something that took time for Link to get used to, my partner had a thought." She said and everyone looked at her curiously. "Link took out the Ocarina of Time and played a song he had learned after going to Kakariko Village to get the Longshot, the Song of Storms." Navi explained and several eyes went wide in shock.
"H-hold up!" Gray cut in sharply as he stared first at Navi and then Link, his tone getting several ear flicks in response. "You're saying that Link was the cause of that storm Sheik mentioned?" He demanded, fully remembering the power of that song from when Link first arrived at Fairy Tail, and Navi gave a confirming chime.
At that everyone else, even Impa, looked at Link in varying degrees of surprise.
"Wait… but that means if you hadn't gone back then the storm wouldn't have happened?" Natsu asked and Link nodded his head. "But then Sheik wouldn't have known… and then you wouldn't have gone back to cause it… but because it happened, Sheik knew to send you back … but…" Natsu's right eye began to twitch as he tried to wrap his head around the paradox.
"Oh, wait until you hear the really weird part." Navi said happily, obviously taking pleasure in the disbelieving stares she received. "Who wants to know how he learned the Song of Storms?" She asked and Link sighed as he lightly pinched the bridge of his nose with his left hand, his own headache forming as he recalled.
"H-how?" Zelda asked as she looked between Link and Navi, uncertain now about the wisdom of sending the two back.
"The guy he learned it from? He first heard it when a young boy in green clothes played the song that caused the storm seven years before Link and I were unsealed and never forgot it." Navi said and everyone stared at her, all of them stunned with the exception of Rauru and Impa; although the two were clearly surprised.
After a couple of minutes of stunned silence, Natsu slowly sat down and hugged his knees to his chest. Shortly after, smoke came from his ears as he rocked back and forth while trying to process the time paradox. "How? How? How?" He started mumbling while the Gorons grabbed their heads at the headache caused by Navi's statement.
"You know what?" Talon asked as he rubbed his temples. "A talking, flying, magic-using cat? Not so weird anymore." He went on, his expression pained.
"Aye…" Happy agreed in a daze, a state shared by just about everyone there.
"GRRAAAAAGGHHH!" Natsu suddenly roared as jumped back to his feet, breaking everyone from their shock and getting winces from all around as they covered their ears. "I knew you could manipulate something's time, but this is nuts!" He went on with an accusing glare at the now sheepish Link.
"Hero of Time, indeed." Erza murmured with a shake of her head. "So I take it the reason the Lens of Truth was missing was because Link was the one who had taken it after all?" She asked and Link nodded his head. "Odd… from experience such things are usually protected in some way." She went on and Link's ears drooped down.
"It was." Navi put in softly even as Erza's eyes widened at her partner's reaction.
"W-what was it?" Lucy asked a little nervously as she also noticed how Link had responded just to the thought of it.
Link looked at Lucy in concern before eventually shaking his head in response.
"Yeah, that's a good point." Navi agreed even as Lucy blinked in surprise and everyone looked at the fairy. "If just Stalchilds, Stalfos, and ReDeads scared you, then this would be too much." She explained and understanding flared in Impa's and Zelda's eyes.
Lucy swallowed nervously, an action copied by Talon, Malon, and Ingo, at the thought. "Th-there's something worse than those?" She asked in disbelief, to which she received a nod and a confirming chime.
"A Dead Hand." Impa answered calmly and everyone from Hyrule but the Sages locked up in fear.
"Th-those are real!?" Mido demanded with wide, terror-filled eyes while Reso and Soso shivered.
"No way… there's no way." Ingo mumbled as he numbly shook his head. "Ya'll gotta be yanking my chain." He went on with horror-filled eyes, a fear reflected on Talon's and Malon's faces.
"I had thought all those abominations destroyed decades ago." Nojam forced out through gritted teeth, his hands clenched tightly and fins flaring about in barely repressed agitation. It was a reaction that was shared by his two subordinates, though the two also swallowed nervously as they looked at each other in disbelief.
Goron Link curled into a quivering ball while his two companions looked at Link and Navi with wide eyes, a reaction shared by Aveil, Irim, and Naiteri.
The Fairy Tail Mages took in everyone's reactions, and quite frankly both Lucy and Happy were truly scared by the visceral responses just from the name. "What's a Dead Hand?" Natsu finally asked as he crossed his arms over his chest.
"It is an undead abomination of great strength and cunning. Even Stalfos stand little chance in one's lair." Impa answered and Lucy swallowed nervously. "I agree with Link's assessment, this horror would be too much for those already fearful of lesser undead." She finished firmly with a final survey of everyone's reactions and Natsu let out a disappointed grunt while shame flashed in Lucy's eyes.
Lucy looked down at the ground before she took a deep breath. "No." She denied and looked back up, cutting off Navi when she had started to continue. "We had already agreed to see the worst, and if Link had to actually fight one of these things then I can certainly take just witnessing the fight." Determination flared in her brown eyes as her hands clenched into fists and everyone looked at her in surprise.
Impa studied the Celestial Spirit Mage before letting out a small sigh. "To try and hold yourself to the same standard as a hero is not wise." She advised calmly.
"I'm not!" Lucy exclaimed as she swept the advice away with her right hand, this time causing Impa to look at her in mild surprise. "I've known for a while that I'm not like Link, even before finding out about this. He's far braver, determined, and more resourceful than I ever thought could be possible." She admitted and this time Impa blinked. "But we promised to see his darkest moments to truly understand what he went through. How can I call myself a fellow Fairy Tail Mage, let alone his nakama, if I let my own fear stop me from keeping my word!?" She demanded sharply, anger at her own hesitation now showing clearly as she glared at Impa.
Goron Link slowly unrolled with a soft groan as everyone looked at Lucy in wide-eyed surprise. "GUUOOOGH!" He roared out as he beat against his chest, causing everyone to look down at him in further surprise. "You're right." Goron Link agreed with new determination burning in his eyes. "I wouldn't be worthy of my name if I let fear stop me. I'm gonna see Brother fight this monster, too!" He declared with a nod.
Darunia looked down at him in honest surprise before his eyes softened and a gentle smile came to his bluff face. Link… how you've grown. He thought proudly as he regarded his son.
A hand on her right shoulder made Lucy look over in surprise to see Natsu's wide smile. "Well said, Lucy." He said and Gray nodded in agreement while Erza gave her a proud grin.
"Aye." Happy agreed with a wide smile as he put his right paw into the air and Lucy blushed in embarrassment.
"Well, Link, it seems you've been outvoted." Erza said with a small smile at her partner, and after a few seconds Link sighed before offering his own smile of surrender.
Such a powerful bond between them. Zelda thought in surprise as she watched their interactions before observing how her fellow blonde's words had reignited everyone's resolve. For her to stir everyone's hearts like this... She mused before turning to the Sage of Light. "Rauru, show us the fight against the Dead Hand." Hyrule's Queen commanded and received an accepting nod in reply.
Despite her words, Lucy couldn't help but swallow nervously as the aurora swirled together.
Link gagged as he opened up a door inside of a dimly lit, dank cave. The young Hylian had the battered and dented shield on his back and the Kokiri Sword tucked underneath, barely visible over his shoulder. Once he recovered, the blonde froze in shock at the sight that awaited him inside the sprawling cavern.
Oozing, putrid flesh lined the floor from wall to wall with bones randomly poking up as if a parody of wildflowers in a field. As if to complete the effect there were four slender, putrid arms that extended fifteen feet up and ended in five-inch claws crusted with dried blood. The arms swayed as if caught in a breeze that didn't exist and the wet, rattling sound they created made Link shiver.
"Link… I don't like this." Navi said as they surveyed the horrific scene before them.
Link slowly nodded his head before he swallowed and walked in while unsheathing the Kokiri Sword. As he stepped into the cavern, the flesh made a soft sucking sound that made him gag again. After he regained control, Link continued to carefully walk across the pulsating floor with Navi close by. Nothing unusual happened, but that clearly did little to put Link at ease as he constantly looked around. Even so, he failed to pay attention to something until it was too late.
One of the arms lashed down with blinding speed and latched on to the surprised Link. "Gah!" He cried out in shock and pain as the claws cut into him.
"What's this!?" Navi demanded with several chimes as she bounced up and down before freezing. "Oh no… this is…" She trailed off as Link struggled to find a good angle to cut at the arm with his blade.
"Gahehehehe…" A dark, gravelly chuckle echoed across the cavern before a part of the floor slowly formed upward with a wet, slurping sound. The flesh came together in an armless, horrifying parody of life that remained connected to the fleshly lining of the floor. Its misshapen head looked downward to show black pits where eyes would normally be and a large, lipless mockery of a smile. Drool and crusted blood slowly dripped down from its large, square teeth as it regarded this new meal and Link's eyes went wide in horror.
"Link, it's a Dead Hand! Break free from the arm, quickly!" Navi instructed before flying around the abomination's head to try and distract it.
The Dead Hand jerked about and took a few bites at the blue fairy, and during that time Link started to hack away at the arm holding him. It took a few swings, but he was able to weaken the grasp of the hand enough to break free and stumble on the putrid floor. The abomination jerked back towards Link and started to slowly shift across the floor with a nauseating sucking sound. The clawed hand lashed out for him, but this time the blonde was prepared.
Link nimbly sidestepped the grab and turned in mid-air. "Hyaa!" He slashed down with a two-handed grip that severed the hand from the rest of the arm, sending out a brief spray of dark red blood before it collapsed to the ground. Link quickly returned his attention to the Dead Hand as blood dripped from his cuts in time to narrowly jump away from a savage bite.
The fight became a deadly game of cat and mouse as the monster would meld back into the fleshy floor and work to lure Link into reach of the other arms. In response, Link and Navi came up with a plan to get close enough to trigger a reaction before moving to attack the newly revealed Dead Hand with anything they could. However, even bombs were of limited use, as the flesh seemed to absorb most of the damage from the blast without reaction.
The turning point came when another arm shot out from the ground and grabbed Link after he had just finished baiting Dead Hand. The abomination was only a few feet away from the trapped blonde, and this time it ignored Navi's attempts to distract it from the fresh morsel waiting to be devoured. Drool fell to the floor in a steady stream from the unnaturally wide mouth before it lunged downward.
"No!" Navi yelled in denial before a loud clanging sound filled the cavern.
Link, working within the grip of the clawed hand, had shifted enough to put his shield between them, but he could hardly relax. The Dead Hand's powerful jaws strained onward, and the sound of metal warping and shrieking in protest quickly gained in volume. He immediately began hacking away at the arm while ignoring the new injuries, desperate to free himself from its grip before the shield gave way. Even as he finally finished cutting through, the shield began to bend inward from the pressure put on it. The young blonde barely got his arms free before dropping and rolling away from the Dead Hand just as the shield finally split in two.
The Dead Hand hesitated at the lack of blood when its teeth broke the steel shield, but Link showed no such thing as he got back to his feet. Blue flames danced in his eyes as he ran back at Dead Hand without pause. Even as the abomination opened its jaws to drop the pieces of the shield, Link climbed up its rotting form.
"Link! It's been protecting the top of its head this entire time!" Navi instructed and got a nod of understanding from her partner.
The monster's head jerked over to snap at him but Link nimbly dodged away as he kept his focus, not even bothering to try for a retaliatory strike as he climbed up its back. A sick, crackling sound echoed as the Dead Hand's head started to turn around to face him, but the blonde stabbed the Kokiri Sword into its base. "Guuaaagghh!" It roared in pain while wiggling about.
Link retained a firm grip on the hilt, though, with teeth gritted against his pain and fear. As he held on, the Kokiri Sword became enveloped with a humming blue aura. The Dead Hand's roar became a screech but the green-clad blonde kept his unbelievable focus, and soon enough the blue aura turned red.
"Do it, Link!" Navi cheered and Link brought his feet up against its back.
"HYAAAA!" Link yelled as he pulled the Kokiri Sword though the misshapen skull into a spin of devastation that completely consumed the Dead Hand.
"Hell yeah!" Natsu pumped his right fist into the air as he cheered, an action quickly repeated throughout the Chamber of Sages. "You really showed that thing who's boss!" He went on with a laugh as he clapped Link on the shoulder, getting a small grin and ear flick in reply.
Lucy's smile was a little shaky but sincere as she shared in the infectious joy at Link's triumph. That thing was horrifying. She thought while holding in a shudder. However, Lucy was glad that she had been able to muster the resolve to see it through. "After that, you were able to get the Lens of Truth?" She asked weakly, praying that there wasn't something worse she would have to watch.
Link nodded his head, though, and a second later the whites of his eyes took on a purple tint as his pupils glowed with a red light.
"So that's how you gained that magic?" Erza asked curiously, for Link had never even named it before, and received a nod from her partner. "I was only aware of its ability to see through illusions and other magical effects to impair your sight. You never mentioned it could be used to see spirits as well." She commented and this time Link raised an eyebrow at her. "Hmm… I suppose it never did come up on a job." Erza allowed with a nod.
"How does it work?" Malon asked curiously, still a little pale and shaken from seeing the Dead Hand but trying to push through.
"Well, after Link got the Lens it transferred its ability to him and then just broke. He has to use magic to activate and maintain it, but while it's active his eyes cannot be deceived or tricked." Navi explained while Link led the magic fade from his eyes. "Something very important for the Shadow Temple." She added sourly as she turned towards Impa.
"Why?" Goron Link asked with a curious groan and tilt of his head.
"The Shadow Temple is a sacred place where the dead of the Royal Family are interred." Impa explained calmly and everyone turned to look at her. "My people, the Sheikah, had long guarded the Royal Family and saw to it that those laid to rest would be able to remain as such." She finished but a chime from Navi returned everyone's attention to the fairy.
"Until it was taken over by Bongo Bongo, you mean. When Link and I went in, it was a house of horrors that had been filled with Shadow Hands, ReDeads, Gibdos, and an even more powerful Dead Hand." Navi said and dread filled the eyes of Lucy, the Lon Lon ranchers, the Kokiri, and Goron Link. "However, we did also find a nifty enchantment that lets Link run on air for a limited amount of time." She allowed and Impa's eyes narrowed while Link's boots showed a golden, winged trim from his toes back to his heels.
"Oh, the Hover Boots! Isn't that what you used to fly after Eligor?" Lucy asked and got a nod as the Hover Boots returned to normal.
"Wait, what now?" Navi asked with a surprised chime. "You can fly?" She asked and Link winced slightly to show he still had some work to do with that.
Zelda brought her hands together in a clap as others started to ask more questions, once more quieting everyone down. "Impa, I was already aware of Link acquiring the Hover Boots. If you will recall, he used them to save my life later." She said with a stern look at the Sheikah, who quickly subsided with an accepting nod. "However, Link, I wish you had waited when the shield had been broken. I could have... had Sheik hurry before you entered the temple." She added and Link looked to the side while he scratched his cheek, prompting a soft exhalation that was almost a sigh from Zelda. "Now then, let us continue." She went on before glancing at Lucy and the others that had been more affected by the Dead Hand. "To the fight with Bongo Bongo, if you would." The blonde added to Rauru, who nodded his head in acceptance as gratitude flashed in the others' eyes.
"I shall also overlay it with the magic from the Lens so all may be able to view the spirit." The Light Sage added as he brought his arms up.
Link, once more in the body of an adult and holding the Master Sword in his left hand, glared angrily into a purple-tinted inky void of nothingness. Within that void, a gigantic, nightmarish creature could be seen hovering. It had a grey-skinned, muscular physique similar in build to a Hylian with armor plating going down up its spine to the top of the neck. The neck, rather than going on to a head, ended sharply to reveal a large, red-glowing eye set inside a series of skin flaps similar in appearance to a blooming flower and several tentacles whipping about it. Its toned arms ended at the forearms, obviously cut into, but two twitching, spinning hands could be seen hovering several feet away from the stumps.
The floor was of odd design, almost looking like a taut drum in appearance and about fifty feet in diameter. Once there, it abruptly ended to show more of the infinite void beyond, showing no way of escape from the spirit before him.
Off to the side Impa was held up as if on a cross by three disembodied, desiccated hands the size of a large hound known as Shadow Hands. Each hand had long, pitch-black talons that had been sunk into the Sheikah leader and caused her blood to flow freely down into the abyss. While pained, her red-eyed gaze was intent and focused as she watched the oncoming fight.
"GRRAA!" The deep yell reverberated throughout the void as a massive right fist flew in at Link and Navi.
Link quickly dropped to his back under it and stabbed up while Navi quickly split away to better observe, but the fist continued to fly past and then into the void before flying back around to its previous position. The blonde immediately leapt to his feet and then was forced to jump and dodge around to avoid a barrage from the flying fists as they attempted to pummel and crush him. Now that he could see them, though, he was able to stay ahead of the attacks while his partner observed carefully.
"Now!" Navi called out as the right hand came in, fingers splayed wide to increase the chances of catching the nimble hero.
Link immediately jumped up while pivoting his body parallel to the ground and went into a spin. The Master Sword was held out in a strong, two-handed grip and thus effortlessly cut into the pinky and ring finger of the hand.
"GUUAAAA!" Bongo Bongo roared in protest as it brought both hands back in, the left one trembling and jerking more in protest from the Blade of Evil's Bane. Link landed lightly and prepared to rush in to press the attack, but froze as Bongo Bongo suddenly started swaying back and forth while… singing?
"What the-?" Navi started to ask before she was cut off as one massive hand slammed against the floor, and the reverberations and shaking caused Link to stumble as he fought to keep his balance. This was quickly followed by the other hand, and soon both were playing a fast-paced yet chilling beat that meshed perfectly with the haunting tones of Bongo Bongo's singing.
Impa's eyes widened slightly at the song, more a mournful yodeling actually, before wincing as the Shadow Hands tightened their grip and sent their talons deeper into her body.
"Watch out!" Navi suddenly called out as several Shadow Hands dropped down from the void and started skittering towards Link on their fingers.
Link immediately took them all in with a glance even as he struggled to keep his balance. As the first one launched at him like a spider he thrust the Master Sword into the middle of its palm, somehow getting a squeal of pain from it. Rather than fight its momentum, he dropped down and allowed it to push him back even as he brought his feet up to kick the dying monster off the blade. The second his back hit the ground, Bongo Bongo slammed it again and launched Link back up as a blue aura surrounded the Master Sword.
"HYAA!" Link roared as he went into a rising spin which sent a spiral of magical power that consumed the remaining Shadow Hands while they were leaping towards him. As he landed, he went into a sort of hopping dance in time with Bongo Bongo's song but was unable to keep a path that would allow him to close in with the circling spirit.
"Link, your bow!" Navi advised as she flew back next to him.
Link's eyes widened slightly at that before he quickly sheathed the Master Sword and pulled out the Fairy Bow with two arrows from his pouch. During one bounce he quickly sighted and released one arrow before quickly repeating the motion with the second. One projectile pierced the right hand and the other struck the left hand.
"GUUAAAA!" Bongo Bongo once more roared in protest as its hands flinched back. However, even as Link notched another arrow the spirit's body launched itself at him at high speeds and low to the ground.
Link quickly ran to the side and narrowly slid into the gap left by Bongo Bongo's armpit. As he jumped back to his feet and turned, the monster's right hand was coming at him to deliver a massive punch. A red light surrounded the notched arrowhead and the blonde took his shot.
The Fire Arrow flew off like a miniature meteor and hit the fist while it was twenty feet away. The empowered weapon erupted in intense flames that consumed the desiccated hand, getting another roar of pain from the spirit.
"Watch out!" Navi warned as the main body came weaving back in and Link's eyes narrowed before he swiftly put the bow away in his pouch.
Link pulled out a large brown nut with his right hand and unsheathed the Master Sword with his left, which was immediately engulfed in a blue aura once again. "Hup!" He exhaled sharply as he threw the nut into Bongo Bongo's eye, and the bright flash of light that erupted from the impact immediately dropped it to the ground with a stunned whimper of surprise.
Link jumped with the impact, using the vibration to launch him at a faster rate at the shadow spirit with eyes intent and a red aura humming excitedly around his blade. "HYAAA!" He roared while going into a spin, and the released magic consumed the eye as well as upper half of Bongo Bongo's torso. The Hero of Time landed on his feet, panting and sweating from the rapid, back-to-back use of powerful magic, and turned his intense gaze on the Shadow Hands still holding Impa.
Somehow the creatures sensed their impending peril and released Impa before flying into the surrounding void. The Sheikah's eyes widened slightly as she fell, a reaction shared by Link and a chime from Navi, but she narrowly caught the edge of the ground with a wince and restrained grunt. Blood continued to flow from her injuries, but the proud protector held firm and even worked to pull herself up. She had just gotten her head to the edge when Link arrived there and carefully pulled her the rest of the way and gently laid her down.
Impa looked up at him intently, her red eyes boring into his blue, and stopped his hand as Link reached for his pouch. "Does Sheik still protect the Princess?" She asked, paying no mind to her injuries, and after a moment Link nodded his head in confirmation.
Impa's eyes closed wearily and a soft, barely heard sigh of relief came from her before they opened again. "Link… you've come far from that boy who first appeared before her seven years ago." She said with an approving nod after a few more seconds. "Before I can accept my destiny… can I count on you to also protect the Princess?" Impa asked, her tone weakening from blood loss.
Link's eyes widened slightly at the question before they firmed with fiery resolve. At his nod, Impa once more closed her eyes, this time with a small smile, and offered her own nod. At the motion, the two were surrounded by a dark purple light before scattering into orbs.
The non-Sages of Hyrule and the Fairy Tail Mages all looked at Impa questioningly, but she returned their gaze impassively without speaking.
"Well, what did you two talk about in the Chamber of Sages?" Natsu demanded after a couple of minutes of silence.
"Things that I felt needed to be said." Impa returned without expounding on it further and Natsu's right eye twitched.
Everyone looked to Link but Natsu quickly groaned as Link looked back at them curiously in response. "Great, now there are two of you." He complained as he brought his hands to his eyes in vexation.
"Impa, if you would please enlighten us?" Zelda asked, holding in a smile at the comparison while others laughed in a mixture of agreed annoyance and disbelief.
Impa looked over at Zelda and then offered a nod before returning her attention to the others. "I offered Link my blessing, as well as a sign of manhood amongst the Sheikah." Her words got several looks of curiosity. "The golden hoop in his ear is given to young men of my tribe on their thirteenth birthday after proving themselves." She explained and everyone looked at the earring in surprise.
"After that, Sheik found us with a gift from Zelda." Navi picked up after a few seconds and then paused as Link Requipped the Hylian Shield to his right arm. "The true Hylian Shield, an ancient artifact that's impervious to almost any kind of attack." She said and Erza smiled at the mighty defense that had saved her partner countless times. "With that in hand, the last place we had to go was the Spirit Temple in the Great Desert. Unfortunately, the only real way to cross the canyon was a bridge that had been destroyed." Navi paused before giving an amused chime. "Fortunately, we had someone with us almost as reckless as Link." Everyone's eyes went wide as they tried to figure out who she was talking about.
Link sat comfortably on Epona as they walked through a winding pass, Navi fluttering along over his left shoulder. As they saw an opening on the left, the blonde's eyes showed relief when they reached it and he gently directed Epona to turn into it. As soon as they exited, Link pulled her up short as he stared in disbelief. The opening went out into a wide ledge for thirty feet before ending at the remains of a destroyed, wooden bridge. On the other side of the sixty-foot-wide gap was another ledge with the remains of the bridge and a large tent set off to the side.
Link dismounted and walked out on the ledge with Epona and Navi following behind. The green-clad blonde went to the edge and carefully looked down the extreme drop to the river far below. His eyes tightened in frustration as he looked back and then around to see if another possible path could be seen.
The entire time, unnoticed by him, Epona watched Link closely with one azure eye.
After a few minutes, Link sighed and then remounted Epona in one graceful movement. He turned her around and clicked his tongue to get her back towards the winding path. However, once inside Epona ignored the movements of the reins and instead turned completely around to face the ledge once more. Link looked down at her in surprise before leaning forward to see what her gaze was fixed on. When he followed it, the blonde froze in shock as he realized where her attention was.
Epona let out a stubborn snort and shook her head as her right front hoof pawed at the ground.
Link looked back at her with wide, questioning eyes and received a loud neigh in response. After a few seconds, his own eyes firmed and he nodded before taking a proper seat.
Navi let out a sharp chime as she caught on to the exchange. "You can't be serious!" She called out in disbelief.
"Hya!" Link called out in response and the auburn mare neighed loudly.
Epona rushed forward in a fluid surge of power that kicked up a cloud of dust, and soon enough the two were a red and green blur. She reached the edge in seconds and her body coiled together for an instant before launching up into the air.
Navi was a blue blur as she flew up after them into the air, easily following their arc over the canyon.
Epona let out a wild cry of defiant excitement, a call that Link answered with his own yell of shared defiance as they reached the top of their jump and started to descend towards the other ledge. Both quieted as they neared it and the mare touched down heavily with her front and then back legs. At the second step, though, Epona lost control of the momentum of her jump and started to slide to the far wall.
"Epona! Link!" Navi cried out as Epona struggled to regain her footing while an elderly, powerfully built man came out of the tent in disoriented surprise.
Link grit his teeth and as Epona spun to the left, her hooves still scrambling for purchase, he nimbly dismounted in a roll on her right side to put himself between her and the stone wall. Right before his feet touched the ground, his boots transitioned into the Iron Boots that tore up the stone ground as he braced himself against Epona. "Hhhnnnnnnggghhh…" He grit out as his entire body strained against the mare's weight and momentum, determined to protect her.
Epona's terror-filled eyes flared with determination in response as she slammed her hooves forcefully on the ground to aid in the effort. The two finally stopped with a few inches to spare, and after a few seconds both seemed to realize it.
Link let out a gasp and Epona a tired whinny before the blonde sagged against the wall that had almost turned him into a pancake.
Epona let out a triumphant neigh while everyone looked at her in varied degrees of shock or surprise. Everyone but Link that is, as he offered her a proud grin and stroked her neck fondly.
"Link… you actually let Epona try something like that!?" Malon started off softly but her tone sharpened with anger as the sentence went on, and Link looked at her in surprise. "Ya both could've been killed! What were ya thinking!?" She demanded hotly as her hands tightened into fists.
"Um, Malon, I don't think-"
"Answer me, Link!" Malon cut off Lucy's attempt at calming her down, her blue eyes blazing angrily.
Link looked at her uncertainly as his ears flicked, not sure what to say, while Mido grinned as he took some enjoyment in his previous rival getting laid into.
Epona let out a soft whicker as he stepped towards Malon and nuzzled the side of her head, prompting the redheaded rancher to look at her.
"Don't ya think-!" Malon started to say before getting interrupted as Epona gave her a long lick that made her blink in surprise.
Epona let out a satisfied snort at derailing her ire while Talon and Ingo couldn't help but laugh at the cowlick, or perhaps horselick would be more appropriate, that Malon now sported. Soon enough others echoed their laughter, Darunia's and Natsu's almost appearing to be in competition for volume and mirth.
Malon's right eye and both ears twitched for a couple of seconds before she sighed. "Fine… like rider, like horse." She grumbled in surrender before noticing what her hair was doing and worked to flatten it back down.
Navi let out an amused chime at Malon's words while Epona gave a quick snort as she shook her head, everyone else laughing once again.
"Once Link and Epona got their wind back, we sat down and talked with the old carpenter that had set up on that side to start some repairs on the bridge before it was destroyed." Navi continued after a couple of minutes when everyone had quieted down again. "It turns out the team he had brought with him lost interest after that and took off to try and find the Gerudos to join them." She said, to which Aveil, Irim, and Naiteri let out soft exhales of disgust while Nabooru blinked in surprise at Navi's words.
"Oh yes, those four." Aveil said with an exasperated shake of her head and everyone looked at her curiously. "You'll see." She offered with an amused smirk at Link while Irim and Naiteri shifted a little uncomfortably.
Link was silent as he carefully shifted a purple cloth covering an entryway to the side. He peeked his head in and carefully looked in to see a large, sandstone room before quietly walking in with Navi. On the far side of the room was a jail cell that contained four large, powerfully built but overweight men. They wore matching brown shoes, white pants, and blue, open vests with slightly poofy brown hair of varying styles and brown eyes.
One of them stirred when Link walked through and almost shouted in surprise before stopping as the blonde brought one finger up to his lips. The man nodded before he quickly got the attention of the other three, and soon enough all four were lined up at the bars with Link and Navi on the other side.
"Who are you?" One of them asked before shaking his head in disbelief. "How did you even get in here and what are you doing?" He went on and the others nodded their heads.
"His name is Link, and I'm Navi." The blue fairy replied and the four looked at her in surprise. "We've been sent here by Mutoh to make sure you four are okay. I take it you're not?" She asked dryly and the four men locked up in shock.
"Master… sent you to check on us?" Another one asked and they looked at each other with shame-filled eyes. "We thought he despised us, always railing on us when we messed up and saying we're just lazy good-for-nothings." He said softly before pausing. "Maybe… maybe he was just trying to push us after all?" He wondered and the others swallowed.
"Listen, Link, we left Master with an impossible job to finish alone… but if you can get us out of here, we promise to make it up to him and you." A third man said, and Link offered a nod with a small grin. "Thanks, but you better hurry. The guards… might… BEHIND YOU!" He yelled and the four men stepped back in shock as Aveil, Naiteri, Irim, and two other women similarly attired with veils silently yet confidently walked into the room.
Link winced slightly and ears flicked at the sudden yell even as he spun while he readied the Master Sword and Hylian Shield. His eyes widened slightly at their number before narrowing in determination as he took a defensive stance.
The five Gerudo spread out in a line before him with Aveil in the middle before pausing as they crossed their tanned arms over their chests, sheathed scimitars clearly visible on their backs. All studied him carefully for several moments before the other four looked to their leader.
"Hmm… so this is the one who thought to sneak in undetected." Aveil finally said in mild amusement and Link blinked at her words. "You didn't truly think to sneak into our compound without being seen, did you? You were spotted shortly before going through the side entrance. The only thing that stayed our hands was curiosity." She informed him and Navi let out a chime of surprise while Link's eyes widened. "Well, that and your actions. I'm sure many of my sisters will wake up with a pounding headache and embarrassed for letting a man get the drop on them." She said with a soft laugh echoed by the other four.
"Still," Aveil went on after her laughter subsided, "I find myself disappointed that all you were after were these four pigs." She said with a hard glare at the four prisoners, making them gulp. "Though I must admit, they have nothing to offer after all. Perhaps you might wish to pay for their freedom?" She inquired and Link's gaze became questioning.
"W-we can pay-"
"Silence!" Aveil snapped at them angrily, making them flinch back in terror from her wrath. "Speak again in my presence and I shall end any need for your freedom." She warned and they shivered but remained silent.
Link's feet shifted slightly and his grip tightened on the Master Sword in response, making the four veiled Gerudo tense up slightly in preparation.
"Yes… I think I have decided on payment; four victories for four prisoners." Aveil said with a smirk and got amused laughter from her companions. "Does that not sound fair?" She said teasingly before blinking in surprise when Link immediately nodded in agreement.
One of the four men started to open his mouth in protest but froze as Link looked back in warning. The man swallowed at the burning resolve in the blonde's eyes before slowly nodding his head.
The far right Gerudo stepped forward as she unsheathed her scimitars and brought them down in a twirling flourish. "I shall be your first but also last opponent." She said confidently when she was ten feet away while the others leaned against the wall to watch. The redhead spread her feet wide and dipped into a slight crouch as she brought her right sword over her head and her left sword low before her knees.
Link, who had remained silent throughout her taunt, slowly started towards her. He started with a probing stab that she immediately parried by bringing her left sword up while simultaneously going into a twirl that brought her right scimitar around in a swift slash. Link quickly blocked it with his shield, angling it to send the sword high, and stepped forward in a green blur to slam his sword hilt into her temple, instantly knocking her out.
Aveil, Naiteri, Irim, and the remaining red-garbed Gerudo all looked on in surprise as their companion collapsed to the ground. The third Gerudo sprinted forward as Link started to reach for his opponent, scimitars readied in a blurring movement.
"Eiyah!" She called out and Link quickly rolled to the right, quickly coming back to his feet in perfect balance with her right on his trail. This one, better prepared for Link's level of skill, moved around almost in a dance around him as she tried to penetrate his defenses.
Link, though, kept his guard up with shield blocks and parries, this time staying entirely on the defensive as he studied her movements and footwork.
At one point she did a quick spinning stutter-step that ended with her launching up above Link to deliver a barrage of lightning-fast slashes down at him. To her surprise Link blocked her attacks with the Master Sword rather than the Hylian Shield, which he kept low and tight to his side. As she landed, Link attacked with a diagonal slash that started from his left shoulder which she nimbly avoided with a jump back.
Even as her right foot landed and leg tensed in preparation to immediately spring back, Link jumped back and tossed up a large brown nut with his right hand. His timing and aim were perfect as it went directly into the path of her next attack and he closed his eyes before a bright flash came from the slash.
"Aaah!" She screamed in pain and surprise at the brilliant light that was suddenly in her eyes. Her scream was cut short with a dull, metallic thud, and when the light faded it showed her collapsed on the ground with a small amount of blood coming from a cut on her forehead.
Link's breathing was deep but even as he turned to regard the remaining two, careful to move away from the downed Gerudo.
Irim and Naiteri looked at each other in disbelief before their amber eyes hardened. They both sprang away from the wall as one and rushed in low, unsheathing their scimitars in a fluid motion timed perfectly with their steps.
Link's eyes widened and Navi chimed in surprise at the dual rush before the blonde glanced back at her. The blue fairy let out another chime at the look, and then Link was forced into a desperate defense against the two thieves. Small cuts began to mount on his arms and torso but no serious attack managed to penetrate his guard, despite the two dancing and flipping about to try and lure him into leaving an opening.
After a couple of minutes of the stalemate, Link finally made the mistake they had been waiting for as he pushed out with too much strength to knock Irim off-balance. Even as she stumbled back, both of their eyes flashed victoriously as Naiteri moved into attack. At that moment, though, Navi flew in like a blue blur directly into her face, making the Gerudo flinch back even as Link stepped towards Irim to deliver a side kick. Right before the kick connected both boots became Iron Boots, which sunk into the surprised Irim's stomach and made her cough up blood even as she went flying back to slam into a wall, instantly knocking her out.
Link immediately shifted back to normal boots and centered his attention on the recovering Naiteri and for the first time went on a full offensive. The Gerudo found herself quickly outmatched as she desperately tried to defend with her blades. Unfortunately for her, even as Naiteri danced around she found that Link had picked up on their movements and already began a rough imitation of it that allowed him to keep pace with her.
After almost half a minute, Link looked down at the final unconscious thief with blood and sweat dripping down as he continued to breathe deeply but evenly.
"Wow, Link wiped the floor with you." Natsu commented bluntly with a grin as the images faded and received weak glares from Naiteri and Irim.
"Says the guy that usually gets taken down in one punch from him." Gray cut in with a smirk and Natsu locked up as the redheads' glares shifted to amused curiosity.
"Hey, I almost had him in our last fight!" Natsu retorted heatedly as he spun to glare at Gray and everyone from Hyrule looked at him in surprise.
"You mean after you got a power boost from eating fire that he was kind enough to offer?" Gray asked with his smirk still in place as he crossed his arms over his chest. "Yeah, way to stand on your two feet against him." He finished with a mocking chuckle and shake of his head.
"Hey, what do you mean offered? He tried to block my fire with his own! I just used it to my advantage!" Natsu argued hotly as he stomped on the floor.
"Yes, Link just happened to make a mistake like using fire against you in a fight. Makes perfect sense." Gray retorted with sarcastic agreement, and at his words Natsu locked up before shooting an indignant glare at Link.
The blonde glanced away with an innocent expression and the Dragon Slayer growled before freezing as Erza coughed into her right hand.
"Forgive their interruption." Erza said with a quick glare at both, making them swallow nervously, before bringing her attention to Aveil. "Aveil, you seemed quite harsh towards the four carpenters. Why was that?" She asked with a hint of sternness in her tone.
Aveil raised an eyebrow at her fellow redhead and then offered a quick laugh before her eyes hardened. "Those four tried to clumsily enter our compound with delusions of easy living and being doted on by us, insulting our way of life and stepping on our pride." She returned firmly before looking over everyone. "We Gerudo do not steal simply for fun. We steal to get what we need to survive in a hostile land. To have four lazy, useless dregs show up with such words of course warranted punishment." She said with no apology in her eyes.
"Well, to be fair thievery is quite fun to do." Nabooru put in with an amused smirk as she placed her right fist against her hip. Aveil paused before she, Naiteri, and Irim chuckled in agreement. "However, it is as Aveil says. As we have no usual way to get some of the necessities we require, we simply acquire them quietly." She said before giving a shake of her that that had her hair ripple with the movement. "Aveil, what happened after Link bested them?" Nabooru went on curiously before anything else could be said regarding that conversation.
"Link offered the use of a healing potion, and once our sisters were on their feet I set the four prisoners free as agreed." Aveil informed her former superior. "I even had a guard ensure they made it back safely. On the way back, she attempted to bring in Epona, but…" She trailed off with an amused glance at the mare. "Well, Link went back out after being made a member of the tribe and brought her in himself." An amused chuckle from Naiteri and Irim followed that statement, while everyone else but Impa and Rauru looked at Aveil in surprise.
"You… you made Link a member of the tribe?" Nabooru asked with a blink of surprise as her right hand went down from her hip.
"Indeed." Aveil responded with a nod. "He showed himself to not be useless like I had assumed almost all men to be. With his ability to infiltrate and even defeat four of our best without killing anyone I felt he would be a strong addition." She explained and after a couple of seconds got a smirk and nod of approval. "Link of course wanted to go to the Spirit Temple, but I was intrigued by something I had noticed in his fight. He was entirely self-taught, with skills high above most but that could still be polished to a keener degree." She said and everyone's eyes widened as they caught on. "I managed to get him to stay with us for a few days, during which we drilled him relentlessly in swordplay, archery, and in the end taught him one of our greatest skills. To use one's magic to surround an arrow with a chill that surpasses the desert night." She finished with a proud smile.
"Wait, he learned his Ice Arrow from desert dwellers?" Gray cut in with a shocked expression and received an amused smirk in response. After several seconds, the Ice-Make Mage couldn't help but grin back. "Well, you'll be happy to know he can use it with just about any weapon now." He said and now Aveil was the one who was shocked.
Navi let out a sharp chime to bring everyone's focus back before Gray could be drilled about Link's expansion on that skill. "After that, it was time to go on to the Spirit Temple… and say goodbye to Epona." She said and Epona let out a soft whicker.
Link, Epona, and Navi faced towards Aveil and numerous red-haired Gerudo dressed in red, purple, or white before a massive sandstone compound, the sun starting to rise in the distance. "Well, Link, I wish you luck." Aveil said with a confident grin. "After all, we worked hard on hammering more skill into you." She said with a laugh that was echoed from all around, including a soft one of agreement from Link.
"A shame he couldn't do any hammering in return." One Gerudo said in a sly tone that set off more laughter, but this time got a mildly confused look from Link in response that made her sigh in disappointment.
Aveil shook her head as her laughter died down before looking at Link seriously. "Is there anything else we can do?" She asked, and Link hesitated for a moment before slowly nodding his head while his ears lowered.
When he got a questioning look in response, Link slowly brought his left hand up and offered her Epona's reigns. "Please take Epona back to Lon Lon Ranch." He requested earnestly with sad but determined eyes.
Even as her eyes widened in surprise, Epona let out an angry neigh and shake of her head in protest at the move.
Link turned to face her directly, his expression still somber and regretful. "Epona, it won't be safe for you." He said but simply got another snort in response. "I shall be using magic after Navi and I are done… and I will not take you to the hell that awaits us next." He went on and her nose flared in protest while the Gerudo watched in on surprise. "Should I survive I shall return." Link promised firmly as he placed his left hand on her snout. After several seconds, Epona began to calm down as she began to understand he wouldn't be swayed. "Thank you… thank you for everything my friend." He said softly before going up to hug her powerful neck.
Epona remained motionless for a few moments before she lowered her head to press against his back as if returning the affectionate gesture.
After almost a minute, Link shifted and freed himself from the embrace and wiped his eyes before turning back to Aveil and once more offering her the reigns.
Aveil looked between the two before slowly taking them, and this time Epona did not try to resist. "She will be there to wait for you." She promised and got a weak grin in response.
"Sarqso." Link said and got a small grin from her. "And Sav'orq." He added before turning to run into the desert and swirling sands that awaited.
Link and Epona were silent as the blonde gently reached up and gently patted the mare's head, who had placed herself over his shoulder while the scene played before them.
Malon sniffed as the images faded before wiping at her tears while. "Aveil… thank you." She said warmly while turning to face the Gerudo Chieftain with a broad smile that took Aveil aback. "I wondered how Epona just seemed to reappear without Link, but it was because of you and your people. Sa… Sarqso." She hesitated at the unfamiliar word, hoping it was one that would convey her gratitude in Aveil's natural language.
Aveil was silent for a moment before a small smile came to her. "Vasaaq." She replied with a small nod, and though Malon didn't know what the word meant she understood the return sentiment clearly.
Everyone watched with a smile before Natsu eventually looked at Navi. "So, what happened next?" He asked curiously, and at his words everyone started to look back at the blue fairy.
"Well, when we first arrived, we were summoned by another Great Fairy and Link was granted Nayru's Love; an all but impenetrable defensive spell." Navi answered when everyone was paying attention again. "After that, Link tried to enter the Spirit Temple only to find the way barred by a giant stone block he couldn't even budge." She paused after that and then gave an amused chime. "Natsu, you might want to sit down for this next part."
Natsu blinked in confusion at her statement before his eyes went wide. "Oh no… not more time travel nonsense!" He demanded and everyone else looked wary even while the Hylians and Kokiri winced at the desperate yell.
Link let out a tired sigh as he walked out of a large sandstone building constructed in the shape of a woman in a meditative pose set into a plateau with Navi flying right beside him. After he took a few steps, he suddenly paused and then looked around intently before spotting Sheik higher up on the hand of the building. The blue-eyed blonde offered a smile and a wave that made the red-eyed blonde lock up in surprise.
Sheik eventually gave a restrained sigh before nimbly jumping down the building to stand next to Link. "How did you know I was here?" He asked while crossing his arms across his chest, his body language showing a little annoyance at being spotted so easily.
"You're as reliable as a sundial at this point." Navi said with an amused chime that got another grin from Link. "We try to get into a temple, and you arrive with some advice on how to proceed." She went on in explanation and Sheik locked up again at that before glancing to the side with a small hint of an embarrassed blush showing under his eye. "If it makes you feel better, the only reason Link found you was because we had already been planning to after we found the entrance impassable." Navi offered with an amused if weary chime.
Sheik's eye twitched once before regaining control of his emotions. "I would have informed you sooner, but…"
"Yeah, Link would have gone on ahead anyways to try." Navi agreed and this time Link looked to the side with a small blush of embarrassment. "I'm glad we're starting to get used to each other, but the only other entrance is too small for… oh no…" The blue fairy trailed off and Sheik nodded his head in confirmation.
"To enter Spirit Temple, you must once again travel back through time's flow." Sheik said before reaching back for his lyre while Link took out the Ocarina of Time. "Can you already feel it?" He asked and received a nod in reply. "Then listen to this melody which will lead a child back to the desert… the Requiem of Spirit." Sheik said before playing a slow, soothing tune on the lyre.
Doo, du du du, du, doo
Link played in response, swaying slightly with the song, and after a minute both stopped playing. Sheik put his lyre away while Link took another breath.
Du du. Du du do doo
This time the tune was more upbeat as Link played the Prelude of Light, and soon enough a yellow light surrounded him and Navi before they scattered into orbs that flew off.
"I believe I can take it from here." Nabooru cut in and the images faded before returning to an aurora of color. "I take it this is when I first met you as a child?" She asked curiously and received a nod from Link in reply. "Well, with everything I've seen now I believe I understand your lack of reaction to that little "reward" I promised for going into the Spirit Temple for me." She said with a sultry smirk that had Link glance away with a small blush and ear flick as he recalled the conversation.
"You tried to seduce Link even in his child state?" Zelda demanded, aghast at such a thought, and received a throaty chuckle in response.
"Oh, Zelda," The Spirit Sage started with a languid shake of her head, "as a lone-wolf thief I used any methods at my disposal to get what I wanted. Besides, I figured a boy would be happy with just a quick kiss." Nabooru admitted with a carefree shrug that got blushes from Zelda, Ruto, Malon, Lucy, and Erza.
Irim and Naiteri both blinked and then looked at each other as something occurred to them, but after a moment both nodded in agreement to remain silent for now.
After smirking for a while longer, Nabooru became serious. "I asked Link to get an ancient Gerudo treasure for me so I might stand up against Ganondorf." She said firmly, her amber eyes glinting like steel, and received looks of surprise from all around. "I was tired of his plans and wanted no part of his evil ways anymore. With the strength provided by the Silver Gauntlets, I felt I would be able to end him once and for all." Nabooru finished as her right hand tightened into a fist.
A few seconds later, her hand relaxed and a haunted look came to her eyes. "Unfortunately, the sorceresses Koume and Kotake somehow learned of my intentions. They took me by surprise and kept me prisoner for seven years… breaking down my will and enslaving my mind." Nabooru said softly as a small shiver went down her back and Aveil, Irim, and Naiteri looked at her with wide eyes filled with shock.
"Link and I saw Nabooru being taken by their dark magic, but by the time we had worked our way down from our vantage point all three were gone." Navi put in softy and Nabooru jerked before looking over at Link in surprise to get a solemn, apologetic nod from him.
"They would have killed you. Or worse, they would have taken you prisoner as well!" Nabooru said but this time got a shrug from the blonde.
"Something like that wouldn't stop Link from helping someone." Gray said with a small grin of amusement.
"Indeed." Erza agreed with her own grin and a nod while the Natsu, Lucy, and Happy smiled as well. "I have yet to see anything that would make him back down when someone is in need." She said and this time Link's ears flicked in slight embarrassment at the looks he was receiving.
Navi abruptly let out a chime to get everyone's attention. "While we were in there, we found something else that Nabooru didn't mention and almost buried in sand. A useful item I recognized as the Mirror Shield, which can absorb and reflect magical attacks." She said and a small smirk came to Nabooru while Aveil, Irim, and Naiteri looked at each other and then Link in surprise.
"With nothing we could do for Nabooru, I managed to convince Link we had to get back to the future and enter the Spirit Temple." Navi went on after those three, as well everyone not familiar with the Mirror Shield, recovered from their surprise.
"Hold up, I thought ya said Link couldn't enter before." Talon said curiously and the Gerudo shared a smirk with each other at the same time as the Fairy Tail Mages did. "What?" He asked when he noticed the looks.
"Oh, you'll see." Nabooru said while Rauru brought his arms up.
Link looked up at the massive stone block in front of him, his eyes firm but with a hint of uncertainty in their blue depths. After a few seconds he took off his leather gloves, revealing something on the back of his left hand that made him pause and swallow; the mark of the Triforce. After a moment, he stored his gloves in his pouch and pulled out the Silver Gauntlets, the silvery surface and ruby center gleaming in the light, before putting them on. The blonde blinked and took in a deep breath of surprise before looking down and experimentally clenching his hands a few times.
"Link?" Navi asked, not certain to what to make his reaction, but eventually her partner shook off his surprise and looked back up at the block.
Link stepped up the block and placed his hands against it before closing his eyes. "Hnnnnggg…" He groaned while straining against the barrier. The hall and block groaned back in protest while sand billowed about before the obstruction was slowly pushed back through the entrance.
Navi let out a chime of surprise as Link took step after step, his balance and posture perfect even as he continued to exert himself with sweat starting to fall from his face. Finally, after ten grueling steps, a smaller doorway could be seen on the right for further passage into the Spirit Temple proper.
Link stopped with a short gasp and then deep breaths for several seconds before he regained control.
The Hylians, Zoras, and Kokiri were wide-eyed with shock after seeing that display, but before anyone could comment on it the aurora swirled together again.
"Hup!" Link exhaled sharply as he narrowly jumped to his right so he could dodge a charging suit of armor armed with a massive mace. The armor stood almost eight feet tall and was of shining steel, and each step in its charged sounded with a hollow echo. The two combatants were in a good-sized, sandstone room that had a few rays of light coming through and flickering torches lining the walls. Sigils and hieroglyphics decorated the walls, depicting events that could only be speculated at.
The blonde turned mid-jump and retaliated with a slash that cut through a portion of the leg armor. Link blinked in surprise at the lack of reaction as well as ichor or blood to indicate he had caused an injury.
"Link, it's an Iron Knuckle! There's nothing inside, you're fighting the suit itself!" Navi warned with a chime as her partner landed and Link's eyes narrowed thoughtfully. "Watch out!" She called out a second later as the Iron Knuckle stopped and spun with a wide sweep of its lance.
Link quickly squared his stance while bringing the Hylian Shield up, the Silver Gauntlets glinting slightly with the motion. He caught the strike and was sent skidding back a few inches, making him blink in surprise, before holding firm against the attack.
Navi chimed in surprise not only from the sheer force the Iron Knuckle had been able to bring against Link, but also that the Hylian Shield didn't even show any kind of damage from blocking it.
Despite its fast charge and swing, the Iron Knuckle was sluggish as it slowly stomped around to face Link again. As the force pushing against him lessened, Link was quick to take advantage. The blonde rushed forward in a green blur to deliver a barrage of swift, powerful strokes while nimbly dancing around the powerful golem's telegraphed attempts at defense. Soon enough, his attacks mounted up and left the armor on the ground in pieces.
"I wouldn't have thought that anything could still push you back." Navi commented before she flew down to hover by the Silver Gauntlets. "At least not without being around King Dodongo's size." She added a few seconds later.
Link looked at the gauntlets contemplatively for a little bit before eventually shrugging.
"Well, at least Iron Knuckles are slow for the most part." Navi put in and Link nodded in agreement.
"By the Goddesses, this is ridiculous!" Navi called out as Link jumped into a back roll away from an Iron Knuckle's relentless attacks.
This one was different from the previous one. Two feet taller and broader with armor a brilliant amber color except for the massive, steel shoulders, and armed with two massive cleavers. Another difference was the speed. This one was still slow but was able to move with a superior balance and flow that made it far deadlier. Due to its even longer reach and higher level of skill, the green-clad blonde was constantly forced to give way lest he become overwhelmed.
Link was far from desperate, though, as he watched the swings with calculating eyes. There was something about this one that was obviously bothering him, a coordination and footwork that he was finding familiar.
"Link, there's something strange about this one." Navi agreed as she flew around to look for a possible weakness for her partner to exploit.
The two combatants were in a room like the last one, only this one had a massive throne with a large, ornate doorway behind it.
As the Iron Knuckle took a step forward to continue its attack, Link suddenly ducked under a swing from the right cleaver rather than move away and rushed in. The left cleaver quickly followed, its course adjusting for his lower stance even as the golem adjusted its grip on the right cleaver. This time Link jumped over it with a spiraling pivot that had him swap up for down as he sailed over its head and slashed down at the helm.
The Iron Knuckle started shifting even as Link started his jump and was able to take the attack on its right pauldron. The force of the strike drew an aborted, deep groan of pain as the leather straps holding the piece of armor in place snapped. The pauldron was sent flying off to the side to reveal a creamy brown, slender shoulder.
Link's eyes widened in shock while Navi chimed sharply even as the blonde finished his turn and landed lightly on his feet. He didn't have time to process that, though, as the Iron Knuckle went into a short spin with its right cleaver leading. The blonde narrowly squared his stance and adjusted his shield in time to take the blow, only for this one to send him sliding back a few feet from the impact.
As the fight continued Link slowly found ways to work past the Iron Knuckle's defenses, careful to avoid or block the whirling cleavers as a single solid strike would cleave him in half. As more pieces of the armor were battered off, the figure underneath was slowly revealed to be a Gerudo wearing a pink breastband and pants. Link's eyes narrowed in anger as he came to realize who it had to be, and with a final rush bounded off first one then the other cleaver, smoothly sheathing the Master Sword in the process, before he jumped past the Iron Knuckle's helm once again.
Link reached out with his left hand and pulled up with all of his enhanced strength, taking the helm as he flew past to reveal Nabooru's face.
The instant the helm was removed, Nabooru blinked in surprise before falling out of the collapsing suit of armor. The redhead stumbled from the mess before dropping to her hands and knees, dazed and confused. "I… what?" She said slowly while Link put the Hylian Shield away before running up to her.
"Where… am I?" Nabooru continued before looking up when Link dropped to a knee next to her, his left hand coming up to rest on her shoulder reassuringly. "You… you're… that boy?" She asked before her eyes started to widen in surprise and fear as the door behind the throne started to open.
"Ehehehehe~" Thin, reedy laughter sounded as two elderly women slowly flew in on broomsticks. They were both of similar shrunken builds with olive-colored, wrinkled skin and grey hair pulled back into a bun. They also wore the same black robes with white sigil trim and ivory earrings. The only difference that could be seen was how the one on the right had a ruby on her forehead while the one on the left had a sapphire.
"Well now, Kotake, it seems this child is back to normal." The one with the ruby remarked as they both hovered over the throne.
"Yes, Koume. However, she still may prove useful to the great Ganondorf." The one with the sapphire agreed. "It seems we still need to work on her." Kotake remarked with a dry sigh of mock sorrow.
"Indeed." Koume said with a similar sigh before both erupted into dry cackles.
"N-no!" Nabooru shouted, eyes wide with raw terror, as the sister sorceresses raised their hands while chanting. She quickly forced herself to her feet to run, but before she had gone more than five steps was struck by a ball of dark magic that swallowed her without a trace.
Link grit his teeth as he started to reach for the Master Sword, but the two sorceresses didn't even spare him a glance before they turned to fly back into the other room.
"We have no interest in playing with you, child." Koume said dismissively as the sounds of Nabooru struggling could be heard.
"Indeed. Leave now before we decide you need to learn a lesson as well." Kotake agreed and the doors slowly closed behind them.
Link's eyes narrowed angrily and he started to walk forward before stopping as Navi flew in front of him.
"Hold up, Link, I have a plan." The fairy said and Link's anger faded somewhat into curiosity as he tilted his head. "Those two only use magic to fight, so let's use the Mirror Shield." Navi advised and got a blink from him before he nodded his head in agreement.
Link stored the Hylian Shield in his pouch and pulled out the mirror-polished shield with red trim. He carefully placed it on his right arm and tested its weight before unsheathing the Master Sword.
"Link… you have to be careful. Remember, they're the ones who taught Ganodorf how to use magic." Navi said and Link nodded his head. "I'm serious! Being reckless here could mean our death, so don't do anything too crazy!" She instructed, to which her partner hesitated for a few seconds before slowly nodding his head in agreement.
Link turned towards the door and then ran forward to kick it open with a single quick movement, making Koume, Kotake, and Nabooru look at him sharply. He boldly walked in, his eyes glancing around to take in the room.
It was a massive, sprawling chamber with ornate pillars set at each corner of the room and some kind of red material set in a massive square shape for the center. On the far side was a golden altar with several sigils on it and a golden pole set on each side. Chained to both poles with arms and legs fully extended in an upright position was Nabooru, spirit back in her eyes mixing with the shock at Link's appearance. "You… what are you doing!?" She demanded with a mixture of damaged pride and desperate hope.
The sorceress sisters looked at each other before slowly turning around on their brooms, their own surprise fading as amusement grew. "Ehehehehehe~" They both cackled in amusement while they went higher into the and drifted away from each other.
"Well now… it seems this child has brought himself to the altar." Koume remarked with dry amusement.
"It seems he wishes to be an offering to the great Ganondorf after all." Kotake agreed with the same dry amusement.
"Well then… with my flame…" Koume paused before red-hot flame erupted from her and her hair shifted into a swirling mane of intense fire, an action copied by her broom. "I shall burn him to the bone!" She declared with another laugh.
"With my ice…" Kotake paused before a burst of icy wind burst from her and her hair became a jagged mane of thick ice, an action copied by her broom. "I will freeze him to his soul!" She declared with a laugh.
What followed was a one-sided barrage of magic against a desperately dodging Link. For some reason he refused to use the Mirror Shield, only trying to avoid beams of intense flames that tore through the floor as well as focused blasts of arctic wind that left patches of ice and frost everywhere. The blonde was soon spotting slight charring and patches of frost all over, but still he continued to fight. At one point Link slashed at one of the beams of fire to reflect it as he had Phantom Ganondorf's attack; but was only able to barely prevent it from hitting him as the force sent him skidding back into a wall with stone-shattering force.
Link's face tightened into a pained grimace as the heat from the attack still caused his white sleeve to disintegrate and burns appear on his left arm. However, he had no time to try and deal with it as a focused cone of icy wind came in at him.
Blue eyes gleamed with determination as Link forced himself from the wall with a forward motion and squared his stance to catch the magical blast on the Mirror Shield. As soon as it hit, the blast was redirected back at a different angle right at Koume.
The crone's eyes widened in surprise as the reflected attack came at her. "Uuaaahh!" Koume screamed in pain as the magical cold slammed into her, pushing her back several feet before magical flames surged up and allowed her to hover in place.
"Koume!" Kotake shouted in surprise as she dismissed her attack. "Are you okay?" She asked but then paused as her sister shot her a glare.
"You f-frigid fool! Watch what y-you're doing!" Koume demanded hotly through chattering teeth.
Kotake's concern faded as her eyes cooled. "Well maybe if you didn't have so such smoke in your head, you wouldn't have fallen for this child's trap!" She snapped back coldly.
A red glow filling the room got their attention in time for Kotake to see a Fire Arrow flying at her. She desperately put up an icy barrier, but the eruption of fire that came from the impact melted it down and made her cry out in pain.
"Kotake!" Koume called out before glaring at Link, who had sheathed the Master Sword and put the Mirror Shield on his back while the two argued before pulling out the Fairy Bow. "You damned kid!" She screamed before thrusting her hand out to unleash another beam of fire at him.
Link smoothly spun to put the Mirror Shield in the way, glancing back to check and adjust his body's position, and the fire sorceress's eyes widened in shock before she cut off her attack. However, it was too late to take back what had already been unleashed.
"UUAAAAGGHHH!" Kotake screamed in anguish as her sister's magic burned into and sent her back before an icy wind swirled up to reduce the damage.
Even as Koume looked back at her sister in concern, Link was spinning back around with another arrow notched and ready. A cold aura swirled around the arrowhead and then Link fired the Ice Arrow at the distracted fire sorceress.
Link dropped to a knee and his bow after his shot with a wince, bringing his right hand up to grab his burned left forearm.
"UUAAAAGGHHH!" Koume screamed in pain after the Ice Arrow hit a swirling red barrier and an icy blast penetrated enough to wash over her.
"Link, are you okay?" Navi demanded worriedly as she flew over to his arm while the sisters slowly flew to the ground and collapse. She received a pained nod from her partner before he reached down to store the Fairy Bow. "We were right at least, those two are susceptible to each other's magic." She remarked and got a weak grin before he took a breath.
Link forced himself to his feet, breathing heavily, at the same time as Koume and Kotake slowly rose while using their brooms as support.
"That's it…" Koume forced out painfully as she glared at Link. "Enough playing around. Let's get serous, Kotake!" She declared hotly and Link's face twisted with surprise while Navi let out a sharp chime.
"Very well… Let's do it, Koume!" Kotake agreed in a cold rage.
The twin sisters displayed a surprising nimbleness despite their age and injuries as they jumped to their brooms. "Take this!" They both declared as Koume was surrounded by a red aura and Kotake by a blue aura, their hands coming together. "Fire's burning passion! Ice's cold logic! We combine them now to create…" The two trailed off after their chant and their auras flared up, making Link shield his eyes with his left hand.
When he could see again, Link's eyes went wide and he took a step back while Navi let out a sharp chime of shock. Still at the altar, Nabooru had gone slightly pale as she looked on with both fear and awe reflected in her eyes.
Standing before them was no longer Koume and Kotake, but someone new. Taller than Link, even slightly taller than Ganondorf, stood a fit elderly woman with olive-colored skin. Her hair split into a burning plume of fire on the right side of her head and a jagged, curving icicle on the left. She had generous curves showed up by a tight, sleeveless black top with matching arm sleeves, loose white pants with pink and white tabard and a green, pointed slipper on her right foot with a pink on her left foot. In her right hand was Koume's burning broom and her left held Kotake's icy broom, both more like large wands for her. A gem was set on her forehead, half ruby and half sapphire, and her amber eyes now showed an amusement backed by her confident smirk as she regarded Link without a mark on her.
"Twinrova."The new being said before giving a throaty chuckle. "Are you ready for round two, child?" She asked before giving a lazy swipe with her burning wand. A massive, red-hot fireball shot out at Link, to which he quickly blocked with the Mirror Shield to reflect at her. As it came flying back in, she offered an amused exhalation before swiping with her frozen wand to send a ball of swirling, icy wind at it. The two collided, making Link cover his face and filling the entire room with steam.
"Not so easy this time, I'm afraid." Twinrova said as she appeared next to Link, making him quickly look over in surprise. "I have no weaknesses like this!" She declared with a laugh before delivering a side kick into Link's left side just under his sword arm.
"Gah!" Link cried out in pain and coughed up blood as the kick sent him flying several feet. He hit the ground with a thud and went rolling, but before Navi could react Twinrova was already flying after him.
"You thought that old toy could save you?" The sorceress demanded even as Link controlled his final roll and jumped up to his feet. "I taught King Ganondorf all he knows! Such paltry things are beneath me!" Twinrova declared before slamming her frozen wand on the ground to send a wall of icy spikes at her opponent. The force of her magical power caused all the steam to be pushed out through various cracks in the walls.
"Link!" Navi called out as she flew towards him, but her partner was already in motion.
Link's motions were a blur as he brought his right palm to his left, cocked fist, the shield being angled slightly to not interfere in the stance. "Hup!" He said before swinging his right arm out and left fist up into the air before punching down at the ground, the icy wall of death closing in fast. "HYAAAA!" Link roared as a dome of intense flames erupted from him, slamming into the oncoming avalanche and melting it. His eyes burned with the same intensity of Din's Fire as he matched magical strength with Twinrova, who tilted her head in amused curiosity.
Link gasped and dropped to his left knee after the spells expended themselves, wincing and panting as he brought his right hand over the burns on his left arm. He shot Navi a look when she started to move towards him again, making her stop with a sharp chime.
"Truly interesting…" Twinrova remarked as she regarded him carefully. "You would be a most useful tool…a shame your ability also damns you." She said before bringing her fiery wand up. The sorceress paused for a moment as a red color overtook Link's tunic before creating a massive, swirling fireball. "Die!" She ordered and swung the wand down to launch the fireball at him.
Link brought the Mirror Shield up to block the attack, but even as Twinrova smirked and readied her icy wand to ward off the deflection it was instead absorbed into it, making her blink in surprise. He grit his teeth and slowly forced himself up on shaky legs before reaching back to unsheathe the Master Sword with his trembling left arm.
"Oh? So you think to just keep absorbing my attacks to get in close?" Twinrova asked with a wild laugh before charging another fireball as Link started to stumble towards her. "Well then, child, let's see how that works out for you!" She declared with another laugh before sending it flying at her red-clad opponent.
Link stopped as he once more brought the Mirror Shield up to absorb the spell, but once it was in the shield he immediately started charging forward.
Twinrova's eyes sparked with sadistic pleasure as she flew up above Link's reach. "How do you plan to get me now?" She mocked before sending another massive fireball at the blonde. Even as Link dropped to a knee to block the attack, the sorceress waved her frozen wand to send a ball of swirling, freezing wind at him. "Now die so I can return my attention to that misbehaving child!" She laughed before freezing as a blue crystalline aura surrounded Link in time to block against her ice magic.
Link's face was tight with pain while the Mirror Shield glowed red with the contained fire, but his eyes were filled with determination as he glared up at Twinrova. A golden glow came from the back of his left hand and his trembling body started to steady.
"W-wha-?" Twinrova started to ask but was cut off as Nayru's Love disappeared.
"HYAAA!" Link roared and sent a massive stream of fire shooting from the Mirror Shield at the hovering Gerudo.
"Oh no you don't!" Twinrova yelled in rebuttal as she sent a focused beam of ice magic to block it. However, the built-up fire magic easily blew through it and slammed into her. "AAHHHHH!" She screamed in agony as she was sent slamming into the ceiling. When the magic was fully expended Twinrova was embedded in the ceiling, but after a few seconds fell to the ground. She barely hovered in time to not slam into the floor but could only hold it long enough to go to a knee.
"Y-you-!" Twinrova started to say before freezing when she looked up to see Link right before her with Master Sword held up and eyes holding her with an inferno as intense as the one that had almost fully consumed.
"Hyaa!" Link yelled as he thrust his sword into her chest.
Twinrova's eyes went wide with shock as she coughed up blood. She slowly looked down at the puncture wound before looking back up at the panting Hero of Time. "You… I get killed… by you…?" She said in disbelief as her blood flowed down the blade onto Link's hand, the glow fading away from it.
Link blinked rapidly in mild confusion before he seemed to realize what had just happened. He looked down at where his sword had entered the sorceress's chest and his eyes slowly widened in horror.
Twinrova noticed the look on his face and a small, weak smirk of satisfaction came to her as both wands fell from her weakened grasp. "I see…" She said with a blood-filled chuckle and Link jerked back, pulling the Master Sword from her. The dual-element-haired Gerudo winced but kept her smirk even as the light started to fade from her eyes. "Remember me… child. Remember… your first time… killing... another…" She trailed off before collapsing to the ground.
Nabooru watched as Link slowly fell to his knees, tears welling in his eyes as he let both Master Sword and Mirror Shield fall to the ground. Her eyes, at first solemn and regretful as she watched him start to sob, widened in surprise before going steady. "Very well… I'll accept this." She said with a nod and was surrounded in a tan light at the same time Link and Navi were.
Everyone was silent as the images faded, most still looking at the point where Link had just begun to sob over his killing of Twinrova. Present day Link, in contrast, looked slightly pained but accepting over what had happened. "Once Twinrova was killed, the hold that Koume and Kotake had over me was gone and allowed me to hear Rauru's voice." Nabooru picked up before shaking her head with a small sound of disbelief. "It's still hard to believe sometimes. A lone-wolf thief chosen to be a Sage." She said with a sigh and then turned to face everyone. "I offered Link my blessing and helped him understand what he was forced to do. It's a harsh rule… a rule that most are lucky enough to not be forced to face." She said solemnly while crossing her arms over her chest.
"Sometimes there are those so evil, so unrepentant in their ways, that there is only one way to deal with them." Nabooru explained, making Lucy, Malon, and others swallow as they understood her meaning. "However, such an act is not as simple as when dealing with monsters. To look into the eyes of a person as you kill them, to see the final workings of a mind you can understand… it requires a price." She said with a regretful glance at an accepting, if slightly pained, Link.
"The last of your innocence." Zelda said softly and Link looked over at her solemnly. "When facing that phantom whom you believed to be Ganondorf, you shifted your strike from a killing blow to one meant to simply pin him in place." She recalled and this time received a nod.
"This time Link didn't have the time to think about things like that." Navi picked up with a soft chime. "All he could focus on was keeping me and Nabooru safe, which meant ending the threat." She explained while landing on Link's left shoulder. "As you all saw, it wasn't until it was over that Link realized what had happened."
"But… but Link still had the mind of a child, right?" Lucy asked in horrified realization and several others swallowed. "That… that's not right." She said, head shaking back and forth with tears in her eyes.
"But it was necessary." Erza said with arms crossed under her chest. Everyone looked at her in surprise before pausing, for despite her accepting words she was obviously angry. "Isn't that right, Rauru?" She asked with a glare at the Light Sage.
"Such hesitation would have proven fatal." Rauru confirmed with a nod.
This time Natsu gave a low growl and flames erupted from his clenched fists, but a large hand enveloping his shoulder made him look back.
"Take it easy, little guy." Darunia advised, but it was the same anger reflected in the Fire Sage's eyes that kept Natsu in check. "Remember, anything has to wait till the end." He said firmly with a nod.
Natsu let out another growl before he took a breath. The flames around his hands faded to nothing and he offered a return nod.
Navi let out a chime and everyone slowly returned their attention to her. "After that, the two of us arrived in the Temple of Time. It was time to confront Ganondorf and finish things." She said and the aurora swirled back together.
Link walked across the Temple of Time, his eyes set and determined, with the Silver Gauntlets still on his hands and Master Sword sheathed on his back under the Hylian Shield.
Navi flew over his left shoulder, easily keeping pace with his stride.
"Link, the Hero of time." Sheik's voice suddenly echoed about, making them both stop and look around in surprise. The Sheikah bodyguard appeared before them in a brief flash of light, his expression set and arms crossed over his chest. "You have overcome much to awaken the Six Sages, but one final challenge remains… the King of Evil." He said before he paused as determination flared in Link's eyes. "However, first there are some things I must tell you… and something I must apologize for." Regret showed in his eye for a second at the second part of his sentence.
Link blinked and Navi chimed in surprise before they glanced at each other curiously. Blue eyes hardened slightly as he looked back Sheik warily, his body tensing slightly in anticipation.
Sheik, though slightly pained at the wariness, did not otherwise react as he continued to speak. "The reason Ganondorf can still be brought down is because he does not hold the full Triforce." He said and Link slowly nodded his head. "That is because if one with an unbalanced heart manages to grab hold of it in the Sacred Realm it will break apart, leaving behind only the piece that the individual most values." He went on and this time Link blinked in surprise. "The other two will go to those chosen by destiny to safeguard them, who will bear a mark on the back of their hand."
Link's eyes flared in surprise before he looked down at his left hand and got a nod from his fellow blonde.
"Yes, when Ganondorf entered the Sacred Realm… no, the Dark Realm now because of his evil heart." Sheik said with a regretful shake of his head before returning to his explanation. "When he laid his hands on the Triforce, only the Triforce of Power remained while the other two went to their destined recipients. With the Triforce of Power under his command, he turned Hyrule into the nightmare you see today, but that was not enough to satisfy him. He searches for the other two to gain the full Triforce, for by mastering it he can extend his dark grasp to cover the entire world." Sheik paused for a moment before swallowing. "Link… by now you must be aware you hold the Triforce of Courage." He said and got a slow nod in response. "As for the Triforce of Wisdom, it is held by one who is to become the Seventh Sage… the one destined to become their leader. The final piece is held…" Sheik paused before he closed his eye and took a breath.
Even as Link looked at him in concern, for he had never seen Sheik so shaken before, the Sheikah brought his right fist up, which began to emit a golden glow that made the green-clad blonde shade his eyes. When he could see again, his eyes went wide in shock to see Zelda standing there with the Triforce of Wisdom still showing through her long white gloves, though the light quickly faded.
"By me." Zelda finished as she brought her hand back down and Navi let out a sharp chime while Link continued to stare in surprise and disbelief. "Link… I apologize for having to deceive you, but it was necessary I remain hidden from Ganondorf." She said before glancing to the side and then back at him uncomfortably. "Please, I hope you can forgive me…" The Princess of Hyrule trailed off as a relieved smile grew on Link's face.
"I'm glad you're okay, Zelda." Link said warmly and her eyes widened slightly at his warm tone and instant forgiveness.
"Link…" Zelda trailed off before a small smile came to her. "Yes, in large part thanks to you, my champion." She said and Link's ears flicked as a hint of confusion grew in his eyes, but the Hylian Princess didn't expound further as she moved on. "The time has come to finally deal with Ganondorf… but I can't do it alone. Link, after all you've done it seems wrong to ask more… but will you please stand with me and stop this madman once and for all?" Zelda asked as she brought her hands up beseechingly, her tone filled with hope but also some desperation.
Link blinked and looked at her in confusion. A second later his eyes cleared in understanding and he nodded as he gave her a comforting smile. "I promised." He reminded, to which her eyes widened slightly.
Zelda's smile grew warmer before she let out a small, soft exhalation before pausing. "Oh! Before we depart, there is one more thing." She said before closing her eyes and chanting. "One final blessing to aid you against Ganondorf and his evil." Her eyes opened as she finished before reaching out with her right hand to gently place against Link's chest. "With this, you will have one more weapon to penetrate even the darkest of magics… the sacred Arrow of Light." She said and Link's eyes flared in surprise as a yellow glow engulfed him for a second before fading.
Zelda stepped back with one last smile before her face set with determination. "Now then, let us quickly depart." She said while turning and quickly moved to the door.
Even as Link started to follow, Zelda was suddenly encased in a dark purple crystal that made her freeze in surprise. "No… it can't be!" She turned around in shock even as Link rushed up to place his hands against the barrier in the same disbelief.
"Hm hm hm hm hm hm…" Ganondorf's laughter echoed throughout the temple. "Princess Zelda… I must commend you on evading my pursuit for seven long years." He said with a mixture of annoyance yet also grudging respect. "But when I saw this kid again, I knew I had found a way to make you drop your guard. I recalled you both looking in that window all those years ago and then how he had been willing to try and delay me to ensure your escape." He went on, his tone changing to amusement at the shock displayed by both blondes. "I knew if I let him run free, you would begin to feel a false hope that I could actually be stopped. Once again, kid, I owe you for delivering the Triforce to me! Just one piece brought me Hyrule in a single day. Imagine how great my power would grow with the Triforce rejoined! AH HA HA HA HA!" His laughter echoed as dark magic crackled in the crystalline aura, making Zelda cry out in pain.
Link jumped back as he unsheathed the Master Sword into a downward slash from his left shoulder with a determined glare. Right before the blade would have connected, the crystal and Zelda disappeared.
"I must admit, though, that even I slightly underestimated your power." Ganondorf said as Link's eyes widened in horrified disbelief. "No… not your power, kid. What I underestimated was the power of the Triforce of Courage. Now, though, I also have the Triforce of Wisdom in my grasp." He said before giving a dark chuckle. "If you would like to rescue Zelda, then come to my tower. However, come ready to die! AH HA HA HA!" Ganondorf's laughter faded into nothing, leaving Link and Navi alone.
Link's hand clenched the Master Sword's hilt tightly and gritted his while he closed his eyes, breathing deeply.
"Link!" Navi said sharply and her partner locked up before taking one last breath and going still.
When his eyes opened a few seconds later, blue flames danced in their depths as he sheathed the Master Sword and ran out of the temple.
"Devious bastard…" Nojam forced out, his hands clenched into fists as his fins flared about for a few seconds.
"Wait! You mean Sheik was actually Zelda the entire time?" Natsu demanded, a question on the mind of those who had not already been aware, and Nojam blinked as he was pulled from his anger.
"Yep!" Navi replied with an amused chime at the looks on everyone's faces while Zelda looked on with amused embarrassment.
"A clever use of Transformation Magic to hide in plain sight." Erza complimented with a smile that Zelda returned with a graceful nod as well.
"On the other hand, baiting Link like that is a pretty stupid move on Ganondorf's part." Gray remarked with arms crossed over his chest, his expression cold. "He demolished a castle for something similar when Lucy was kidnapped." He said and got several looks of shock, including from the Sages.
"Yep!" Natsu barked out with a laugh while Lucy and Happy smiled with a nod. "Those flames are especially delicious." He remarked with a lick of his lips and got several looks of surprise at his comment.
"Focus!" Navi chimed sharply to regain everyone's attention. Just what has my partner been up to? She wondered for a second before continuing. "Link took to the roofs to avoid the ReDeads, and we were heading up to Ganondorf's tower when we heard the summons of another Great Fairy." She said before giving a small sigh. "However, the entrance to her fountain was blocked by a massive pillar of granite from the destroyed castle, and even with the Silver Gauntlets Link could barely budge it. Luckily, there was an old treasure of the Royal Family that had somehow been lost and remained hidden, the Golden Gauntlets." She said and Erza made a small sound of amusement.
"Yes, that would take care of such a problem." The redhead confirmed with a confident smirk, a confidence echoed by the other Fairy Tail Mages.
"Are they stronger?" Goron Link asked curiously as he looked up at Erza, who looked down at him before nodding her head.
"Rauru, if you would?" Zelda asked with a small smile as she imagined the expressions to come.
Link finished putting the Golden Gauntlets on as he stood before a massive black granite pillar, roughly 500 feet tall and 100 feet in diameter. Not far in the distance Ganondorf's black tower could be seen floating over a lake of lava, but his gaze was focused even as he took a deep breath. He crouched down to put his hands under the pillar and then strained to stand.
"Hnnnngg…" Link grit out before the pillar shifted against his press. Slowly and shakily at first, Link lifted the pillar with increasing control until he was almost standing. "HYAAA!" He roared as he threw the massive thing back until it almost reached the lake of lava!
As Zelda had expected, the Kokiri, Lon Lon ranchers, Zoras, and Gorons all were looking with eyes and mouths open in shock.
"W-w-what the hell?" Mido asked before he swallowed, pain and shame in his eyes as he saw just how far Link had come. If… if he were to challenge me for the Kokiri Sword… He realized, his right hand clenching into a fist at the thought.
"That… that's incredible!" Goron Link gushed out as he turned to give Link an adoring look. "I have to train really, really hard to be as strong as you one day!" He exclaimed, to which Link scratched his left cheek in mild embarrassment.
"What did the Great Fairy summon Link for?" Erza asked, accustomed to the feats of strength Link could accomplish with the Golden Gauntlets.
Navi was a little surprised by how unaffected the ones that had arrived with Link seemed to be, but with the end close she could question them later. "A final defense, a layer of magic that could help protect him when all else would fail." She said and recognition flashed in Erza's eyes. "After that, Link and I went to confront Ganondorf." The fairy turned towards the Light Sage as she finished.
"For this final confrontation, thou shall hear telepathic messages as we Sages worked to aid the Hero of Time." Rauru spoke up as he raised his arms up.
Another chapter finally out!
For anyone that's wondering why the Morpha fight was so short… well, it was honestly one of the easiest fights for me first time playing through the game all those years ago. Actually that's how a lot of these fights have been done to be honest with some twists to them.
Hope I got the feel for Dead Hand down, that fight legitimately gave my sister and I a couple of nightmares. I'm glad that it was only a mini-boss, imagine a full-on boss version of that thing…
I ask you cut me some slack on vasaaq, had to improvise on using welcome being for acknowledging thanks as well as entering.
Nabooru Iron Knuckle with cleavers rather than the battle-axe felt like a better utilization of her usual fighting style, nothing else really to say about it. For those wondering, no Link did not get raped by a Gerudo. As for why the teasing and innuendo… well, I imagine them like a band of thieves with the discipline of a military unit, big surprise I know. In other words, lots of the two previously mentioned things, lol. That and they would probably see any kids from that amount of raw talent as a boon.
Next chapter featuring the final fight and then some revelations from Erza and the others. This went on a little longer than originally intended, but flashbacks are almost done!
Now then, in regard to the requests I've been getting in reviews. Please stop copying and pasting the same reviews again and again. I get the idea. I don't need to see the same thing again and again. Especially if you're trying to put another idea partway through, because if it's the same thing around it odds are I'll miss it. If it's literally the same thing I don't reread because it's under a new name. Also please understand I will do as I always have and take these ideas, run them across what I'm planning, and decide how I might want to implement it. Telling me how I have to or must write my story is not needed, especially the same way fifteen times. I do this for fun and so it doesn't keep dancing in my head without letting me rest, not to be given orders on how to do it.
To be frank, some of these ideas are an entirely new story. Not only that, an awesome sounding one as well. Someone, or some few, has done an amazing amount of research into it and how it might work. I say own it and write it. If you want advice on how to get it started send me a PM and we can spitball some ideas. I've actually come up with a few scenarios but I've already got enough stories I'm neglecting as it is, lol. If my ideas for Avyactha and some of those characters are needed then just let me know, but again please in a PM. If you're uncertain if you're good enough, please understand that as bad as some of my earlier chapters are; they were much, much worse. Hell, my writing still isn't the best as anyone can see, for me and grammar not always best fellows as Vandbenz could attest. There are people on the site that can help, I'll help if you're ever uncertain about how to put something, but the only real way to see your ideas come alive is to do it yourself.
I hope one of you takes this challenge and delivers another fun Fairy Tail/Legend of Zelda crossover. If you do, please let me know!
Thanks to Vandbenz for being my beta reader.
Hope everyone enjoyed the chapter.
Till next time.