Lion and Link headed into the Temple of Time. Lion had never been in the Temple, and was awed at its grand interior: all white marble brick, with a few lofty windows placed high above the floor, and a red carpet leading up to an obsidian altar with three small indentations dug into it. Beyond the altar was a massive stone wall, with a picture of the Triforce above it.
"In here," Link said. "The Sages' spirits will guide us." Link led Lion to the obsidian altar, and they both knelt. After what seemed to be hours -- but was only seconds -- the two brave heroes heard the voice of Rauru, the Sage of Light, speaking into their minds.
"Ho, brave ones," he said, his voice booming. "Zagorshida's evil influence is gripping the people of Hyrule. It is worse than Ganondorf's reign. Be wary, Zagorshida will stop at nothing to conquer Hyrule. He will even kill all of Hyrule's people just to have it."
The vision ended there. The two heroes rose from the altar and left the Temple. Upon reaching the shallow pool outside the Temple, a trio of Stalfos appeared. Link drew the Master Sword, while Lion drew the Guardian Brand. Lion challenged two of the Stalfos' -- one of them hung back while the other press its attack on Lion. As Link made quick work of the first Stalfos, Lion had managed to dispatch both of his.
"How did they get here?" Link asked to no one in particular. "I didn't think that anything with an evil presence could set foot near this Holy Temple."
"I don't know, but *you* managed to control the Master Sword while under the influence of Zagorshida."
"True enough." Link sheathed the Master Sword, while Lion sheathed the Guardian Brand. "Come, Lion, we must head again for the Desert Colossus. Zagorshida seems to center his power there."
* * *
The ground rumbled, and walls collapsed inside the Desert Colossus and the Spirit Temple. Lion and Link managed to flee to safety as the Colossus collapsed. They fled, and managed to find safety atop a rock platform. As they watched in horror, the Colossus tumbled, falling in upon itself, only to be replaced by an enormous castle, scarlet red and midnight blue in color, rose from the foundation. It rose, and rose, and rose, and . . . It nearly doubled the size of the Colossus.
The foundation of the castle was hexagonal-shaped, with towers and parapets rising from each angle. Smaller hexagonal layers continued until six of them had formed. And atop the sixth was a massive trapezoidal pyramid, at least as tall as the Colossus itself had been.
"Behold, young warriors," the voice of Zagorshida said. "My Citadel -- my stronghold. Here is the center of my Dynasty. None shall conquer its power." With a sinister laugh, the voice faded into the distance.
A squall began to brew at the platform of the Citadel. Dark storm clouds filled the sky with an air of total and unadulterated evil.
"Link," Lion said, "if Hyrule is to live, then Zagorshida *must* die! Come! Into the Citadel!"
**** Link's Battle: Doppelganger ****
Lion and Link entered the highly decorated interior of Zagorshida's Citadel. What they found was to be mostly a massive main chamber with six corridors leading to another particular antechamber.
"Two of us, and six doors," Lion said quietly. "Just perfect. Link, I suggest we take three passages each. Since they will no doubt eventually lead to the parapet, we should take opposite wings and face the challenges alone until we can face Zagorshida together. After all, you have the Triforce of Courage, and I have the Guardian Brand."
"You're right, Lion. Let's go. You take the East Wing, I'll take the West Wing. Okay?"
"Good deal." Lion turned and looked Link in the eye. He held out his hand, which Link took and shook firmly. "Until we meet again." Link nodded, and they departed.
* * *
The West Wing was quite large, and the spiral staircases and stain-glass windows reminded him very much of the staircase leading into Ganondorf's chambers. The red carpet rolled up the steps, and Link's Kokiri boots pounded lightly on them. He drew his Master Sword and Mirror Shield just in case something popped up. And indeed, something did.
Link entered a small room with an iron door at the opposite end. He ventured into the room slowly, cautiously. When he was halfway across, he felt the hairs on the back of his neck tingle, and he spun around to block a blow aimed at his neck. It was an enemy he'd never seen before. A small voice in his head told him that the tall, ax-wielding, powerful-looking creature with leathery-gray skin and stringy white-orange colored hair was called an Iron Guard, as opposed to the armored Iron Knuckles.
The Iron Guard converged on Link, with ax held high above his head for a powerful blow. Link backflipped away just as the ax gouged the ground where he had last stood. Link leaped forward with the Master Sword ready to slash at the Iron Guard. With a fantastic flurry of attacks, Link forced the Iron Guard to drop his ax -- only to have the Iron Guard produce a massive two-handed sword. The Iron Guard slashed laterally at Link's neck, and Link stumbled to the side as he blocked. The sheer force of the attack would have broken a lesser man's arms. But Link was the Hero of Time! He *could not* be defeated!
Link waited for the Iron Guard's next attack, and rolled forward to avoid it. With stunning dexterity, Link managed to stab hard at the Iron Guard's midsection. The Iron Guard dropped his sword and stumbled back. He dropped to his knees, and an eerie green fire engulfed him. The Iron Guard vanished, and Link sheathed his sword.
Link entered the next door. The next room was identical to the first, with the exception of two cages hanging from the ceiling. The cages shook, and there were fierce growls coming from whatever was inside. The deep, thunderous voice of Zagorshida filled the chamber.
"Meet my pets, Afrit and Diablo. I am sure that they will keep you . . . entertained." His sinister laughter ensued, followed then by the bottoms of the cages dropping open, and two enormous beasts fell to the floor. Each resembled a Wolfos, except twice the size, with fiery-red fur and long muzzles filled with gleaming white fangs. Their mouths slobbered and their claws -- each as long as Link's hand -- scratched the floor. With terrible roars and a lash of long, muscular tails, they charged upon Link.
Refusing to be intimidated, Link quickly cast Din's Fire, in hopes that it would slow them down and buy him some time. It did, but not much time. But the time that he got would be enough -- at least he hoped. He held the Master Sword back in place, as if rearing for a hard lateral strike. The blade began to glow blue, and it shook. After another pair of heartbeats, the blade glowed orange-red, and the blade shook more. It took all of the strength he had to keep the blade in place. The beasts had recovered, and were converging upon Link. Relaxing the muscles in his arm, the blade was released and spun Link around violently, and a wave of energy spewed forth from the Master Sword, slicing hard into the beasts' bodies. They yelped, and one of them, Hydra, fell to the floor in the eerie fire. If Link had time to listen, he would have heard the growl from Zagorshida as he watched Hydra falter. But Afrit did not, and vaulted at Link, slashing with its very long and razor-sharp claws. It hit Link several times, and Link could tell that he was getting quite weak. Luckily, he had a fairy hidden in a vial on his belt, just in case. Afrit reared back for another slash, and Link brought up his shield to defend. When Afrit had hit the shield, Link thrust forward with his sword and hit Afrit dead between the eyes. Afrit tumbled back and toppled over, allowing the fire to consume him.
"Well done," Zagorshida said angrily, his voice edged with hate. "But you have not yet seen a tough battle. Come forth!"
Link sheathed his sword and headed into the next room. What he saw was -- again -- the same room, except for a large circular door on the floor, with the pattern of an inverted Triforce engraved in it.
Zagorshida's sinister laughter filled the chamber once again. "Young one," he said. "Meet my servant, Doppelganger." The lights in the chamber dimmed, and the door split down the center, and a bright light filled the room. From the center of the opening, a dark figure rose up, his head tilted back. He was but a mere silhouette, but the ice that ran throughout Link's veins identified him immediately. This was Dark Link. "Take your time on him, Doppelganger. Enjoy this battle." Dark Link chuckled his assent, and drew his sword and shield.
"Your skills have grown, boy," said Dark Link, his voice deeper and more scratchy than that of Link's, "since the last time we fought." Dark Link swung his sword down towards Link's head, which Link parried easily. Link countered with a jump attack, but Dark Link mirrored the move, barely missing Link's arm. They two fought, and moved all around the chamber. Whenever Link struck with some move, Dark Link would parry it in a mirror move. Both would occaisionally score a hit on the other, but mostly, they swung, dodged, parried, slashed, and defended. Link's arms were beginning to burn under the stress. He knew that Dark Link felt the same fatigue, as he was an exact double. Link and Dark Link separated, panting, sweating.
They nodded to each other in respect of their skills, and they retreated to opposite ends of the chamber. After catching his breath, Link brought the Master Sword up to attack, and Dark Link did likewise. They charged at each other, and both held their swords above their heads. But, at the very last possible moment, Link collapsed to the floor, and slammed the edge of the blade into Dark Link's abdomen. A shower of fabric from his clothes flew from his wound, and Dark Link converged on Link with a dark vengeance. Dark Link slashed downward at Link's right arm, and knocked away the shield. Now, without a shield, Link had no choice. He reared back, fist in hand, and slammed the ground. A circle of fire engulfed Dark Link, and was sent tumbling to the floor.
Link grabbed his Master Sword and shield, and looked at the dying Dark Link. Their eyes met.
"Yes, indeed," Link said to Dark Link. "My skills have grown." Dark Link then faded away with a painful scream, and a pale blue light emerged from where he had vanished. Knowing full well that the blue light was a portal, he stepped into it, and rose into the air. He found himself standing hundreds of feet in the air, above the Gerudo Desert, in the dim shades of early evening, coupled with the brown clouds. And, standing before him, was the true form of his adversary, Zagorshida.
**** Lion's Battle: Violation of a Noble Mind ****
Lion ascended the stairs of the East Wing of the Citadel slowly, carefully, in order to keep a vigilant eye. The carpeting on the stairs was a fancy green, that shimmered in the candlelight. Lion's boots sunk into the softness of it, and he was amazed at the opulence of such an evil place.
Continuing to climb the stairs, he suddenly felt a strange presence inside his mind. It was the kind of sense he had when he knew he was being watched, or when he was being followed. He knew that in such a place as this, he was sure to be watched and followed. But this time, the sensation was different. It actually felt as if the presence he felt in his mind was *really* inside his head.
As Lion came to a small hexagonal platform, whose floor was made of pure volcanic rock. As he walked onto it, a gust of wind came from behind, circled him, and stopped at the opposite end of the platform. There, it began to glow an eerie green light, and then took shape.
It started at the feet. Two rather small feet leading up to the wide hem of a cream-colored dress with red fringes, to a slim waist, to slender shoulders, and then to a very familiar face framed by beautiful red hair. It appeared to be Malon.
"Lion," the apparition of Malon said. "Please don't go! Come back to the ranch with me! We could be happy forever." Lion approached the image of Malon with narrowed eyes. Something was definitely playing tricks with him, and using his dear friends was just playing dirty. "Come on, Lion!" In response, Lion drew his sword, and pointed the tip at "Malon's" nose. "Lion, what are you --"
"You aren't Malon. My Malon would never beg me to abandon the salvation of Hyrule." Before the demon pretending to be Malon could respond, Lion spun on the ball of his foot and slashed the image of Malon. She dissolved as if he had slashed only air.
*Brave one,* said the familiar voice of Rauru, the Light Sage. *Be wary of this monster; he can read your mind and make you fight anything -- your friends, your family, even yourself.*
Lion stroked his thumb across his brow, and headed up the next flight of stairs. The torches along the stairway danced as he passed by, and some of the tapestries seemed to wriggle by his presence. He eventually came to another platform, only this one was larger, and was pentagonal-shaped this time. Not knowing who to fight, but knowing *to* fight, Lion drew his sword, and stood ready in the center of the platform.
"Welcome to my arena," said a voice as two catlike eyes of fiery red appeared above Lion. "Here you will meet your doom -- if not by sword, then by your own weak spirit!" The eyes blinked away, and were replaced by a green light that appeared as his childhood friend, Deeg.
Deeg was Lion's best friend when they were both in their early-teen years -- *after* the alteration of time by Zelda and Link. They were inseperable, as were their parents. Lion's father, Urso, was a long-time friend of Deeg's father, also a soldier in the King's Army. One day, the two boys were swimming in Zora's River. They played along the shore, until Deeg's foot was caught by the undertoe, and was draged under. Lion tried to save him, but by the time Lion was able to pull him free, Deeg had drowned, his face utterly purple, and his mouth dripping with water and blood. Deeg's father never blamed anyone for the accident, nor did either of Lion's parents. They considered it to be the will Nayru, and, though they mourned, they did not shun the gods. Lion, however, torchered himself over Deeg's death for many months, completely blaming himself for not being able to save his friend's life. He eventually got over Deeg's death, but the scar on his forehead from fencing with Deeg as a youngster reminded him of his friend every day. And now, seeing the apparition of Deeg before him, dressed in thick leather armor and carrying a large battle-axe, Lion was unsure of how to handle this.
"Hello, Lion," Deeg said angrily, his voice reverberating throughout the entire East Wing. "After what -- seven years? -- we finally meet again."
"Yes, so we do, Deeg," Lion replied, trying very hard to keep his voice unconvinced of the apparition. "W--what do you want?"
In response to this, Deeg clutched the battle-axe and raised it to a ready stance. "Years ago, you let me die in the river, and then claimed you didn't kill me! Well, now I will have my revenge! Your betrayal will never be forgiven . . . Din, forsake him!" Deeg then charged at Lion, axe raised high over his head for a surely deadly strike.
Lion, unable to believe was he was hearing, only dodged as tears began to well up in his eyes. *No!* he said to himself. *I will not be defeated by a ghost!* Lion defiantly stood in a ready stance as Deeg again charged. When the axe was raised over Deeg's head, Lion darted forward, and slashed Deeg across the midsection. The armor of leather that Deeg wore could have held against a regular sword, but the Guardian Brand was made of a sliver of the Triforce -- the very essence of life itself. Nothing could stop its attack unless the receiver was pure of heart. Deeg suddenly dropped the axe and grabbed Lion's shirt.
"Lion," the resonant voice softer this time, as if spoken only to Lion. "I know you tried to save me. Forgive my transgression!"
"You are forgiven, my friend." Lion raised the sword and pressed the hilt to Deeg's un-beating heart. "Now let your soul rest in peace." Deeg vanished then.
"Hmm . . ." the voice of the monster said as its eyes again appeared. "Not bad. Your will surely is strong, and your heart is surely pure. Thus and so, I am forced to cut right to the very end, a fight with the one you hold most dear . . ." the voice trailed off, and was again replaced by a green light. But this light revealed somebody very different.
When the green light faded, Lion found himself standing before a tall man, with golden-brown hair which was tied to his head by a thin strip of leather. He wore silvery white armor, which covered hs torso, shoulder, with cuirasses that protected his thighs, and shin guards. He also wore a red banner over his left shoulder. His eyes were a distinctly green color, and the mustache of brown marked him as the great Urso.
Lion blinked as he stared at the image of his father, who clutched a Hylian shield and sword, and gazed at Lion with a critical eye. Lion gulped, as he had not seen his father in years, and was amazed at the sheer size of the man. His muscles were easily as thick as a normal man's legs, yet he clutched his sword with the kind of gentle firmness of a master swordsman.
"Lion," he said. But Urso's voice was not like the others; their voices had echoes -- Urso's did not. "You have grown into quite the man. It is time for you to save Hyrule?"
"Yes, it is," Lion replied, his fist shaking with anxiety. "And time for you to stand aside, Urso, my father."
Urso laughed. "I think not. As a matter of fact, I am not even your father. Your were nothing but a lost child when my wife found you. You only lived in my house. My wife was the only one who cared for you enough to feed you and clothe you."
Lion stood facing Urso, shocked. He knew his father loved him. "That isn't true," Lion said to Urso, trying to sound confident, but his voice came out quivering.
"It is so true," Urso replied menacingly. "As far as I'm concerned, you can die right where you stand!" As if struck by an invisible source, Lion was thrown to the ground, all the air knocked out of him. He struggled to get to his feet, but Urso's armored boot kept his head low to the ground. "Now you die," he said, driving his sword down towards Lion's neck.
But as the tip of the sword landed, a glimmering plate of blue light covered Lion, then formed itself into the shape of a prizm, deflecting away the tip of Urso's sword. Along with the blue shell, a single fairy emerged from a vial on Lion's belt, and healed him. He stood, and drew the Guardian Brand.
"If that is how you want it to be," Lion said sadly, a tear dropping from his eye. He charged at Urso, and slashed at the base of his neck. Urso parried, and tried to stab Lion, but again his sword was deflected away by the blue light. Lion leapt high into the air, and came down hard, driving the Guardian Brand into Urso. Yet, as Urso fell to the ground, he began to change into a hideous-looking beast with blue flesh, and many, many claws and talons. And a specter of Urso floated away from the beast that took on the image of Urso.
The transparent specter of Urso floated up to Lion, as the blue shell disappeared.
"Lion," he said, his voice echoing throughout the chamber. "My one and only son. Be brave, and save Hyrule from the clutches of evil!"
"I will, father," Lion replied. He felt newfound strength and courage coursing throughout his body. "I swear it." Urso smiled, then vanished. The hideous beast, now dead, burned up in blue fire, and was replaced by a circle of magic. Stepping into the circle, Lion soon found himself staring at the huge form of Zagorshida atop the Citadel.