Chapter 19
Lingering Fears and a Rising Hope
The room was dark. I was barely able to see the fine carpet beneath me. The chamber was so wide and long that I couldn't see the walls or ceiling, but I wasn't afraid, this was the time. The time when my journey was coming to a close. In this room was the final guardian, and upon defeating whatever it was, I can go back home and wake Zelda with the complete Triforce.
I couldn't see the guardian, and at first, I couldn't hear it either, but I knew it was in here. It was probably staring me down just a few feet away. I could almost feel the beast's breath beating down on me. The feeling made me unsheath my sword and prepare my shield. There was no turning back.
I was surprised though, when the act of drawing my weapons caused a sinister laughter to boil forth from the beast. At first, I was offended. No one dared laugh at me! I was a hero, and no matter your tactics, I will find a way around them! But then something darted through me that froze me in fear. That laugh was familiar, I've heard it before.
"Who's there?" I yelled. "Show yourself, Beast!"
Suddenly, from nowhere, the guardian just appeared in front of me like it was there this whole time. Ganon was no different from the last time I saw him those six years ago. He towered over everyone with his size, and I could barely see the blue tint of his skin in the darkness around us.
But this doesn't make sense! Ganon is the final guardian of the Triforce?! "So we meet again, Link." Ganon greeted once he stopped his laughing. I had no response. My head spun from the sight of my old enemy. I was so captivated that I stood gaping and speechless. "I never thought I would have been defeated, and by a boy no less!" He growled. "But that doesn't matter now that I have another chance for my revenge. Your death is six years overdue, I won't lose this time."
"How are you…? When…?" I stammered, unable to come up with the right question.
"Yes," He replied. "I'm alive again, and after our battle, I will take the final Triforce piece, the Triforce of Courage, and take my long awaited rule."
I didn't want it to come to this, I had hoped all along that he was gone, and that there was nothing any of his minions could do to bring him back. "Then you give me no choice." I threatened him past my trembling fear.
But again, he laughed, his haunting voice bouncing all over the walls I couldn't see. "Such arrogance! Do you not know why you were on this quest in the first place?"
"O-of course I know why I'm here! Don't be insane!"
"Yes, you want to save your dear friend. How touching, but it's just as I planned."
"What...?" Just as he planned? What was he talking about!?
"I knew there were only two things in the world that mattered to you; your own pride, and your precious Zelda. It has been quite enjoyable for me to watch you suffer along in this journey, and my minion has done well with bringing you here."
"Your minion? Quit talking, you beast of madness!"
"Oh, but don't you want to know? Aren't you curious? You weren't sent on a quest from a siblings' dispute!"
I tried to not show any hesitation before I lifted my sword and charged to him, but just as the weapon swung down, he teleported behind me. I spun around to face him, expecting an attack, but he remained calm. "Don't deny it!" He yelled, having noticed me flinch. "The wizard who the prince of Hyrule used to curse his sister wasn't there by accident! No, Link, I knew it would not be likely possible for me to get my revenge in a second fight if nothing drew you to this place. I needed you to have a reason to show up here, and I figured the princess was perfect bait!"
I could hardly stand him any longer! "Shut up!" I yelled, feeling strong anger boiling inside me, replacing any doubt as I charged yet again. But again, he teleported.
"It's too bad the wizard died, or he could have gotten rid of the prince as well." He teased, and for a second time, I spun, but now pointing the tip of the sword towards him. Beams shot from the magical blade, and Ganon returned the attack by releasing magic missiles of his own. The spells collided and canceled each other out. Ganon was returning to his old strategy from six years ago, but I didn't remember him being so impossible to hit! Soon, he was teleporting so much and so rapidly, I could only catch glimpses of him here and there.
But still, my rage kept me trying to strike and shoot whenever I saw him, but this battle was impossible! I couldn't hit him once! But every time he teased or laughed, it spurred me onward, and I felt more determined to strike him. But after chasing down his every movement, I became bold, and charged openly.
That was my mistake.
Again, he vanished, but he didn't teleport far, because suddenly, he was two inches away to the attack! I could do nothing but stare in a second of terror as Ganon released a flurry of lightning from his grasp. I don't even remember what it felt like, I just know that it smelled like a sudden, hot fire, the loud cackle made me feel like I was going deaf, and those light blue striking bolts was the last thing I saw...
I propelled myself forward and reached for my sword, only to find it was not there! I stayed in panic, and started to glance around, desperate to find it, but I stopped to take in my surroundings. The cave floor that I was lying on was cold and slightly damp. Soft rain continued to drip down outside, creating a calming melody. The smell of the wet earth was not stronger than anywhere else, as every wall and ceiling was damp enough to emit it.
A darkened form that I didn't recognize at first stood by the cave's entrance, looking quietly at the rain and the thick, but light, clouds covering the morning sun. The prince turned around when I woke, and stared at me with startling alarm before his silhouetted features softened when he asked. "Are you all right?"
We had stopped for shelter last night, I told myself, taking quite a while to remember what happened. "I'm fine." I answered. "Just a dream."
He turned back to look at the woods. "I'm surprised it's still raining out there, but the clouds seem brighter and less heavy. The rain should come to a stop soon, at least, I'll remain hopeful that it will."
I stood and reached for my equipment that I kept nearby. "I don't feel like waiting for it to stop though, we should keep moving."
"I agree." He replied without hesitation. "Now we finally have a way forward, we shouldn't stop for even a moment." He stepped to the side, and allowed me out first, then he followed behind.
We were just on the edge of the woods, and after a few minutes, the open road came into view. Again, we followed it south to Saria like we have so many times now, but hopefully, it would be the last. "We'll have to fight with the bago-bagos again." I stated out loud, tired of the repeat trip.
I expected some sort of response from His Highness, or even a nod, but he didn't seem to notice my remark. That's unlike him, I thought. "Hey," I spoke. "What's going on? Ever since we left Bagu, you've been distant and quiet."
He shook off the stare he kept and scoffed. "Nothing wrong with that!"
"You were staring again too. Is something the matter?"
He kept silent, and focused on the road again. I decided to give up and do the same. But then he took a breath and finally replied. "Not... Really. I'm just thinking. When we were talking with Bagu, you were explaining to him about Zelda, and you said, 'She means everything to me'."
Now it was my turn to be silent. Something about the way he said that didn't sound good, and I didn't want him to accuse any answer I may give, but then he took my silence as an answer. "Wow, now you don't want to talk about it!" He exclaimed.
I prefer it when he was silent. "No," I answered. "She... She does mean everything to me, to us! Isn't that why we're on this quest in the first place?"
"You love her, don't you? How long have you felt that way, and why didn't you tell me?"
I sighed. "Calm down."
"No, this actually makes sense." He was still accusing, but not raising his voice anymore. "I get it, the hero and the princess! And you two remained great friends once you rescued her from Ganon those years ago."
"Quit assuming things!" I called, tired of the conversation.
"Then tell me the truth. Are you in love with my sister?"
Where would I go from there? How would I admit it? Again, the prince was right, I loved Zelda, and always have, but I never dreamed of telling anyone about it, especially her brother of all people!
"This is why I always assume with you." The prince spoke, clearly bored of waiting for my answer. "You never tell me anything, just stand in silence."
"Fine!" I cried. "Yes, Zelda has always been special to me, and if that makes you upset, then you can leave."
"I am angry about that, but here's my next question, does she know?"
"No!" That thought seemed absurd to me, so much so, I could feel my face becoming hot. I only hoped it didn't show. "And you better not tell her, or anyone for that matter!"
"Why would I?" He barked back, then stormed off ahead of me. And I didn't bother with chasing him down. I released another sigh from pure frustration. Great, he'll never let me go near his sister after this!
Gentle thunder accompanied the sound of rain falling on every exposed surface, and together, they stole the silence and echoed across the kingdom. The light the sun gave away was filling the dark gray clouds so they could reflect it back to the ground. I couldn't stop myself from glancing down at the pendent around my neck. The silver charm sparkled when it caught what little light the clouds casted down. Don't worry Zelda, we're on our way.
The town returned to looking innocent, but now I knew otherwise. Caught up with the prince again, I pointed behind the homes, hoping to go back in as we came out from the town. His Majesty nodded, understanding. And we crept around the town's outskirts until we can reach the bridge again. I noticed that there weren't as many "people" as there once were. Some of them probably decided to search somewhere else.
We had crept through the edges of town successfully and safely. Once we entered and headed for the bridge, we saw the river guard still standing watch, his eyes widened with surprise and he shook his head. "Not you two again!" He exclaimed."I already told you, you can't pass, and there's nothing that can change my mind."
But I was bringing out Bagu's note before I even stopped running. "On the contrary." The prince explained as I gave the guard the note. "I think you'll be happy to let us through after seeing this."
The guard looked skeptical, but yanked the paper from my hand. He opened it, and glanced across what Bagu wrote. "You- you weren't lying? You do know Bagu? But how...?"
"None of your business, all what you have to know is that we were telling the truth and he wants you to let us through." His Highness replied.
"I still can't... No, the captain will be so mad if I let you, but the favor... Oh, why does Bagu always wait until the worst time?" The guard mumbled, glancing back down at the note. "This is his handwriting for sure." Then he looked back up to us. "You gave me no choice, I can only pray for your safety." He stepped to the side and cranked the bridge forward. It moved slowly, and the river guard was working up a sweat bringing it out by himself.
Finally, a way for us to reach Mido. Even if it was going to be a long way through the mountain, I felt a forgotten glimmer of hope. "Now hurry up." The guard warned once the bridge was completely out. "I don't want to be caught like this."
I thanked him and we crossed past it and into the next section of the town. Luckily, there were not very many imposters here either, which made it easier to leave Saria behind. Death Mountain was so close by now, that it looked like it was taking over the sky.
Taking the road up the slope to Death Mountain reminded me of the time six years ago when I was trying to find the secret entrance to Ganon's hideout, Death, where Zelda was being held. I haven't been here very often since then, not for any other reason than there was little need to. The caves were confusing and twisted, I simply didn't want to explore in a place that, in the end, will only have me lost. Most of the mountain was too steep to climb anyway.
But since we were going in with the purpose to reach Mido, we would be forced to take the tunnels and pray we wouldn't get lost. It would have been so much easier if we could scale up the cliff next to the road to reach the other end of the path, but that wasn't an option. We will have to go through this the hard way.
We followed the road up as far as it would take us before we reached one of the first few caves. "Before everything," I warned. "We need to stay together, or the two of us wouldn't make it out of here alive."
"I'll try my best."
I brought out the candle and stepped inside the gaping mouth of the entrance. The sound of the storm now muffled, the dripping from the stalactite became more clear. Just from walking inside, I remembered how dangerous it was those years ago. The mountain would be even more so now that Ganon's minions were everywhere. Between the battles and getting lost, this will be very difficult.
