Evil's Bane
V 3.7
By (o'.')o ( pc_prettycool@email.com )
Disclaimer:
Mr. Miyamoto stumbled on a fantastic idea when he and his pals stumbled on The Legend of Zelda. Far be it for me to step on his shoes. Zelda and all subsequent characters are properties of Nintendo.
Note from the Author:
OK, I lied. This isn't the final Chapter. The next one is the final chapter, I prooooooommmiiiise. So please stop hitting me. Please? *ow*, what did I just say? This is a lead-in to the final Chapter. It's important, so I decided to keep it to a chapter in and of itself. Hope you don't mind.
Last Chapter:
Nabooru, the young Gerudo warrior followed her heart and her heart led her to Link. Link was still confused and disillusioned by the previous battle, and when he found the huge base where the Ghanims resided, Link attacked alone. Knataghanim was again, too strong for him, and Nabooru made her final choice. She released the Gerudo Keepsake, a power that allowed her to call upon the spirits of her ancestors in battle. With the new power, Nabooru saved Link from death, but at two great prices. One: Knataghanim now knows the Gerudo Secret, and he'll use it to bring back the most infamous Gerudo of them all. The second great price was, Nabooru's life.
The time for the final strike is approaches …
********
It was almost noon across the green land of Hyrule, almost time to get free of ones backbreaking labor and siesta. This was the thought that was in Aelin's head. He wiped his brow tiredly and got stood, stretching and drawing in the wondrous fresh Hylian air.
Aelin looked around his field. There was sure to be a bumper crop this year. Smiling widely, he picked up his hoe and other tools and began towards the house.
The sky gradually became cold and dark, and the ground rumbled fiercely. Aelin froze in his tracks and looked around, shivering because of an extreme sense of anxiety and dread. The farmer looked up, searching for the source of these horrible feelings.
Nearly 100 feet above him, an enormous, grotesque creature loomed, slowly inching it's way across the sky. The creature was covered in a slick black fluid. It resembled some kind of fish, with four huge fins, a withered tail and pores all over the body that opened and close, as if fitfully sucking in air. It's face consisted of a huge maw that was twisted in a frozen scream.
The farmers' tools fell limply from his hands, and he and stared, completely letting himself go to the dark force that floated above. Aelin knew he was no match to this energy, this being. There was nothing he could do to save himself or his family. The worst thing was that Aelin knew that as horrible as that creature was, there was an even more terrifying being that resided inside.
Aelin waited for death to come. Instead, the shadow that had covered the land passed over him harmlessly. The poor man let out a grateful breath and sank to his knees, watching the creature as it slowly made it's way East; towards Hirocco.
The creature may have passed him, but Aelin knew that distance wouldn't protect him or his family. He knew this creature, as long as it existed, would consume them all.
************
Flames licked the afternoon sky as the pyre burned. Link sat not too far from the funeral pyre, his back to the burning flames. He was staring at his bloody gloved hands. It wasn't his blood, it was hers. Her blood was all over him.
He knew enough about the Gerudo to know that this was what they did with their dead. It was all he could do to set Nabooru up on the wooden platform, and it took all of his strength to get Dragon to breath the flame that would put her to rest.
Dragon had been seriously injured by Knata's attack, and Esea had spent the while healing the metal beast. Still, it had taken a lot for the creature to reach within and breathe the burning air that set the pyre ablaze. Link gathered that Dragon must not have been born…or built, for spitting flames.
Link felt the heat against his back, smelt the smoke. Link fought with all of his will not to look behind, not to take a peek at the atrocity that was occurring. The flame was so hot, he knew that it would only take an hour before there was no trace of her left.
"No trace, no proof that she ever lived.", Link thought. "No…NO! That's not true. Damn me, it's not!". Link closed his fist and brought them up to his face, smearing his cheeks with the lifeless fluid. He wasn't shaking, wasn't crying. He felt cold, lifeless. He didn't know what he was feeling. Was it anger? Pain? Was it sadness or guilt? Was it all of it, or was he feeling nothing?
"Has this destroyed me?", he wondered. Weakly, the boy opened his palms and peered at the blood that stained them. "Nabooru….".
Esea took leave of Dragon and wondered close to the elf. She had been mustering the courage to ask him, and she felt she could wait no longer. "L-Link?", Esea started warily.
The elf blinked, staring at his hands for a few more moments, and peered up at the fairy silently. Esea tried to read his eyes, and couldn't find anything. No anger, no pain, no sadness. Nothing, or was it everything? Esea shook her head and continued.
"I want to go back to Saria.".
Link blinked. For a second, he didn't remember who Saria was. It was only for a second though, and the memories accosted him. "Saria?", Link thought. "Malon, Zelda, Ruto…".
Esea floated in closer. "Link, there's nothing more we can do here, and that…that thing is moving in her direction.". She eyed the boy for a reaction, and when she found none, she rushed on excitedly. "I want to keep her safe. I need to go back to her!".
Link looked at her as if she were a talking apple. He closed his eyes and tried to remember. "Saria…", he said inwardly. "Malon, Zelda…Ruto. They're waiting.".
The boy had been silent for so long, Esea thought he might have gone asleep. Esea puffed up angrily, but kept calm. She was about to talk to him again when Link's eyes fluttered open.
"Let's go back.", he said simply. Getting to his feet, he called Dragon over and got on its back. He moved so quickly and fluidly that Esea was stunned.
"What's going on in his mind?", she wondered, before joining him in the air. They left for Hirocco, leaving the pyre to burn alone in the wasteland.
*************
An hour later, Evit stood triumphantly in the large shed of his house. What had started out as a slow-moving hot-air balloon project had evolved into a serious project into air-propulsion and travel. To say Evit was excited was to say the least. Before him was a vessel created from a rowboat about 10 feet long and 2 feet deep. A large balloon was tied to the makeshift mast of the boat, and was complimented with 2 high-powered fans. Evit had added the technology from his guns to create two massive rockets that would propel the ship to high speeds.
Evit stood back and considered it carefully. It was a rick-shaw of a ship, dirty and ugly, looking like it was put together by a bunch of maids. Evit laughed evilly, of course, it was practically put together by a bunch of maids. The scientist sighed, he at least wanted to paint it a nice coat of emerald and name the vessel, but he was running out of time.
He knew it'd fly; he tested it an hour before. All that was left now was to refill the fuel and christen it for a proper flight. Evit scoffed, he wondered if Zelda would at least give him time for that.
Of course, he understood her plight. It was obvious the princess had a lot riding on Link's success as this…'hero' as it were. Evit thought that Zelda might also be holding some other feelings for the lad, but that didn't concern him. He also knew that Nabooru had gone off after the boy, and she was a close friend of the princess. Sighing, he supposed that if he were in Zelda's shoes, he would have been just as edgy.
Seeing no point in delaying the good news any further, he turned towards his house. Suddenly a gale from an intense updraft blew up, billowing his white bushy hair around his face. He turned around and what he saw made him gape like a slack-jawed yokel.
A large metal plated serpent with 4 large slender wings lowered itself to the ground slowly. Evit marveled at what miraculous technology could have created the beast. Then he noticed that it was carrying a passenger.
The town of Hirocco seemed to come to a stop as the Dragon slowly landed to the earth. Seeing the commotion, the rest of Evit's guests rushed out of the house.
3 silvery claws crunched into the ground and the Dragon beat its wings one final time. The throng stopped gathering around the beast once they saw how the beast leveled its many blazing eyes in their direction. The crowd decided it'd be best not to disturb the big metal dragon.
Dragon relaxed and knelt on its forelegs, and let Link slide off.
**********
Malon was amazed. She never would have imagined that he would return so quickly. Malon had packed and was completely ready to voyage across Giant's Valley and fight by his side; and now, he was here.
"Link!", she said excitedly, moving towards him. Link met her gaze, but only for a moment. That moment was enough for Malon to see that something was terribly wrong with him. She stopped and looked him over. He was covered in blood, but he didn't seem to be injured. "What happened?".
Zelda strode up to him, scowling angrily. "It's about time, you idiot!", she said with a sting. "Thinking you can go off like that, who in the world do you think you -", she held her tongue as she saw that Link was covered in blood and grime. A horrible question suddenly entered her mind. "Where's Nabooru?".
His eyes met hers briefly, a look that said absolutely nothing. "You should have listened to me.", was all he said, and he attempted to brush by her.
Evit pushed his specs up his face and sighed inwardly. He knew something bad was about to go down. The young scientist turned from the scene and moved the crowd away in an attempt to give the group some privacy.
Zelda turned on Link furiously. "What do you mean, Link? Have you lost your mind?". She grabbed him by his shoulder and tried to turn him around, to no avail. "Where is she?" she demanded.
Link brushed her arm away from his and gestured to his tunic. "Here she is,", simply. He pointed to his bloody sleeve and his stained shorts and legs. " And here, and here.". He turned to the sky and waved in the air. "And here, she's all around here too.". He looked to Zelda and watched as the blood drained from her face.
"Wh-What are you talking about?"
Link turned to the other girls evenly. "You wondered why I left? You all thought less of me, because I didn't tell you? You were all planning to follow me there?". He gazed at the ground. "Be grateful Nabooru was the only one foolish enough to make it across."
The elf was turned around and hit so suddenly it was as if Nayru herself had reached down and smote him. He stood stunned for moments and watched as the princess of Hyrule withdrew her fist and glared. She was shaking and was as pale as a Zoran. Tears were streaming down her perfect face, and her blue eyes were filled with anger and hatred. Link didn't know she was capable of such emotion.
"You…don't talk about her like that…you bastard!" Zelda cried. She stifled a sob and wavered on her feet. "You coward! If we were there…. if I were there…" she gulped and sobbed again. "You bastard!", she cried and rushed towards him again. This time Evit was there to hold her back. Zelda sobbed and collapsed to the ground, crying for "Sister" and the Goddesses. She cried, and Link watched woodenly.
Evit turned to the stunned elf and glared, his eyes cold with anger. "Ye'd best get out of here.", was all he said.
Saria, who was now holding Esea in her palm, ran to the princess's side. Malon was aghast, and the girl held her hands together to stop them from shaking. What had happened? Was Link saying, Nabooru was dead? How could he so callous about it, so heartless? He'd reduced the princess, such a strong and secure woman to tears. How could he?
Link turned away from the wailing princess and towards the house. Malon grabbed his arm roughly and looked him in the eye. Link said nothing.
"Whatever's happened to you, whatever horror you've experienced to be like this to your friends,", she said, voice breaking, "whatever you're feeling, Link, snap out of it!".
She released him and went to console the grieving princess. Link considered her for a moment, half turning towards the group, and then continued on inside the house.
************
A young girl named Tredy was hurrying back home. She simply had to tell her sisters about what she just saw on her way to the market. They'd never believe it.
Tredy could hardly believe it herself. A huge white dragon, descending from the Heaven's as if the Goddesses themselves sent it. Maybe it was! She thought about the boy on the dragons' back. He was a knockout for sure, and he looked like he had been in a battle.
It had to be the Hero of Time! Tredy thought that was strange. Except for some of the boys and girls leaving town and heading for the desert to join some cult, nothing too bad was occurring; at least, not anything bad enough for it to signal the 'Time of Ill Tidings', the Time of Trouble.
Ah, she'll let her older sisters figure it out. The girl stopped in the middle of the road in horror. What if they didn't believe her!? What if they thought if it were a product of her "over active imagination"? They'd take away her novels! She'd die of boredom, her novels were all she had! Ack, that wouldn't be good.
Tredy wondered for a while. She could say that somebody else saw it, and she saw no reason not to disbelieve her. Yeah…that could work. She smiled. Now it was only up to find the suitable patsy. They boy in school that was always ogling her would work….
Before she could finish her thought, the ground shook with a steady but sure rumble. The afternoon sky turned dark, and Tredy looked above her. A massive creature floated 150 feet above her, inching slowly across the building tops, east: towards the desert.
Tredy was frozen as wave after wave of a dark and vile energy came upon her, emanating from the creature. She was terrified, not just of the monster, but what it carried inside. Tredy turned and watched as people stood stunned, fearful and paling. The whole town saw the beast creep over their homes.
The girl had no doubt that no one would disbelieve her story now.
***************
Knataghanim fell to his knees. He was gasping heavily, and sweat was pouring down his face. The engineers that were with him in the Heart Chamber were staring at him, shocked at seeing the mighty Ghanim in such a state. Knata growled and gave them his most deathly look, and it frightened them enough to go back to their work.
It was all a bluff. Knata was weak, so much weakened by the invocation that for a moment he could barely stand. The only time he felt this helpless and vulnerable was when he still lived with Evit Stal, when his brother had…
He brushed the thought out of his head and gathered his strength. The weakness passed, and the Ghanim felt wave after wave of strength fill his muscles, his bones, his blood. Still, Knata wasn't pleased.
Wearily, he walked up to the pulsing mass of flesh that sat in the center of the room; the creature's heart, and the portal to which the Master would return. At least, that's what he thought, except something was terribly wrong.
Time and again he had invoked the Gerudo Keepsake, and every time he was denied. Knata didn't understand, he was half Gerudo himself. He had a right to the Keepsake. That girl was able to do it. Even the Hero could call it…so why not himself?
One of the scientists spoke up, her voice shaking. "S-sir, should we try again?".
Knata didn't look back. "No.", he said quietly. "He'll come in his own good time.". The young demon turned to the girl and smiled slightly. He looked almost normal. "We should pave the way for Him, and remove that blight which taints His Hyrule."
The scientist nodded. He meant, of course, Hyrule Castle. They were on course, and in a few hours, they would wage war against the Kingdom Head. Hyrule's Knights may pose a small threat to the Neo-ghanims that were preparing for a ground assault, but no one could withstand the might of the Base.
And of course, no one will be able to stop the Master once He finally arrived.
The girl pursed her lips and wondered, was this what she really wanted? All of her life she had been ridiculed for not doing what a good girl should, for being too immersed in science and alchemy. When she was approached by young folks such as herself, and told of the opportunity to flex her mental powers, she jumped at the opportunity.
She thought she was just asserting herself, finally making her mark in the world. Now she was going to be a part in the destruction of Hyrule. Just thinking of it sent chills down her spine.
She wanted to go home. Knata looked at her evenly now, and she glanced back at him. Sometimes he wasn't so bad. Did she think she was pretty? He could be a bit charming if he were impressed with your work…your 'strength' as he called it. But there was something about him, something that sent everyone else to the hills for safety.
"Get to work.", he grumbled, and with a wave of a black gloved hand, he created a door and parted the room.
The engineer finally let out a relieved sigh. She was glad to see him leave. If only he would let her do the same.
She sniffed once and went back to her work, but all her strength didn't go into it. She was occupied with thoughts of home.
**************
In his small-clothes, Link sat at the top of the stairs in the Stal's home, waiting for his clothes to dry. He was clean, after soaking himself for a half-hour in the hot bath, but he didn't feel like it. Quietly, he sat next to the railing, listening to the conversation that was taking place downstairs.
Esea had explained everything to them, and now they were talking about a plan. All the while, Malon was rubbing the sniffling Princess's back. Link considered Zelda, who had been so strong in the past. Even now, she was trying her best to lead in strength and wisdom. She was trying, and every minute she got better. However, Link could still see and feel the pain that was coming from her heart. It was undeniable.
"She was her sister.", he mused. "I guess…in all the ways that matter, she was her sister.". He looked at the others as the conversed hurriedly, trying to think of a solution to the Ghanim threat. Every one of them was hurting, even Ruto, who didn't even know the Gerudo that well. Link wondered.
He felt his cheek tentatively. Her blow didn't actually hurt all that much, it didn't even leave a mark, yet he couldn't stop from feeling it for a huge gaping wound. Link thought about what she said. She had called him a coward. Was she right?
From his side, the handle of the Master Sword glistened in the soft light. The blade was still bound to its sheath by the cloth. Link considered it carefully. Was his locking of the Master Sword away an act of cowardice?
Taking the sword in his hand, he weighed and considered it again. Unleashing the sword caused unspeakable violence, a violence that wounded his soul. Keeping it bound caused Nabooru's death. Which was the lesser evil?
Link closed his eyes. It was true that he was this 'Hero of Time'. It was his duty to forsake himself in order to save others. He pondered on the Link's of the Past, and he knew they went through the same pain, the same self-sacrifice. Maybe the weight of it had become too much for Link…for all the Links… to handle. It broke him.
His eyes flew open in the realization. "I was broken.", he thought angrily. He gripped the Master Sword until his knuckles were white. "I was broken, and Nabooru- .".
"Hey", Evit said, shaking the other's shoulder. Link came out of his thoughts and glanced downstairs. Everyone was gone. How long had he been thinking like this?
Evit watched him for a while, and then snapped his fingers. "If yur back with us, y'might want to know that the we're preparing to leave for the castle.".
Link looked up at him solemnly. "The castle?", he asked.
Evit nodded. "It's the obvious choice. I mean, that big ship that passed over us is definitely headed there. If they're plannin' on bringing back this 'Ganon' character, then the girls gathered he'd attack the castle first.". He leaned forward. "Makes sense, don't it?"
The other elf nodded halfway. "It won't work. They'll never be able to stop him.", Link said quietly.
The young scientist grinned harshly. "Then why don't ye get off yer sorry arse and help them out." He whispered. "If it's not too much trouble."
Link looked at him for a second, and then rose to his feet. He guessed that his clothes should be dry by now, and went to get them from the nearby room. When he came back, fully dressed, Evit was still there.
"One more thing.", He said, hands in his pockets. He looked at the ground, stepping towards Link in a calm demeanor, before stopping and staring at him, nose to nose. "If ye don't talk to Zelda now, this mission will fail before we even set off.".
Link nodded. "All right.", he said quietly. He took the sheathe that contained the Master Sword in hand and stepped down the stairs. Link was okay with that. He even knew exactly what he was going to say.
**************
The others were boarding the small ship to its launching position while Zelda watched quietly. She felt like dying herself, but you wouldn't be able to tell from looking at her. She had learned to bury her emotions in order to lead a long time ago. One way to do it was to not think of the source of the pain at all.
But Goddesses, it was so hard. She was her sister.
Link walked up behind her, and Zelda turned halfway around. He was holding the Master Sword. The boy looked into her crystal blue eyes, and Zelda tried to read his sharp, brown ones. She couldn't see anything.
"You were right.", Link said evenly. "None of you should've have come, but that shouldn't have prevented me from doing what I had to do.". Link gulped and waited for a response. Zelda said nothing, but continued to look at him.
"You're all going to the Castle?", Link asked. Zelda nodded quietly and the boy shook his head. "You're going into a battlefield, and you won't survive against him."
Zelda opened her mouth to speak, her eyes flashing with rage, but Link hurried on. "But, I think you can help in protecting the Castle and distracting him…".
Link's hands went to the cloth that bound the Master Sword tightly to the sheath, and he pulled. The wires snapped and whipped in the air as they were flung away, and Link pulled the sword from it's scabbard. The slim blade shone an eerie, dark light. It vibrated slightly, and the sound seemed to be like a song of freedom…or triumph.
"…While I attack the base from the inside.", he finished.
Zelda looked at him, astonished and a bit disturbed. "W-what, Link? Is this supposed to make me feel better. It's a bit too late for that.", she snapped.
Link nodded. "I….", he sighed. "I just wanted you to know, that I'll travel the full path this time. I'll send myself to the dark realm if I have to, but I won't let you or the others down, like I did Nabooru.". Link looked to his feet. "And…I'm sorry."
Zelda turned and wiped at her eyes, trying to keep her show of strength. "I know you are Link, we all do.". This whole situation screamed of unfairness. She just wanted to sit with him and mourn Nabooru's loss, like they should have been allowed. Instead, all she could offer was an acceptance of his apology. It seemed so little.
With a clang, Link rammed the Master Sword back into its sheath. She looked at his face now, so fierce and strong with determination, but his eyes still seemed empty. Zelda wanted to trust him, but he'd failed them once before. Still, they were running out of time, and Link was all they had.
Zelda was suddenly aware of Malon being beside her. "Link?", she asked. "You're coming with us right?"
Link smiled and glanced over at the large white serpentine figure that was nestled against the house. "I'll be along. Evit can take you there with that…. whatever it is…. and I'll fly along on my…whatever that is.", he said light-heartedly. "My plan is that you make it to the Castle, because that'll be their target, and from there, I'm betting Zelda's magic will only grow. Meanwhile, I'll take the ship. Knata's inside, and if I can end him, I'll end all of this."
Malon nodded. "Sounds good, except for the small fact that Knata's been able to pound you into the dirt every time you fought him."
Zelda looked to the girl aghast, but she just brushed a large lock of red hair from its pretty frame and looked at Link carefully. Link smiled grimly.
"Knata will be going up against two opponents this time. The Master Sword, and I, and one of them is crazy." Link crossed his arms and gave Malon such a fearful look, that for a moment, she couldn't figure out which one was the 'crazy' one he was talking about.
Ruto and Saria came about and gathered around the trio. "Cliff's coming?", Ruto asked brightly. Link nodded and glanced at Saria, giving her a reassuring smile.
"So, the gang's all here!" Evit said from the archway. He strode over and clapped his hands together. "Well then, what'er we waiting fer, an invitation from the King?". He put his arms around the girls and led them to the ship, and prepared for the flight.
Link watched him go, and then turned to Dragon. With a nod, the beast flared its glossy wings and lurched towards the elf. Link climbed on its back and watched as Evit's ship took the sky. Link wished he had time to marvel at the feat, but instead he nudged Dragon with a knee and pointed to the sky.
The dragon beat its wings once, blasting air and dirt in a small whirlwind, and taking its whole mass off the ground. The wings flapped again and again, until Link was moving freely above the town. He watched Evit's ship suddenly take off at a tremendous speed, leaving a trail of flaring smoke behind it. Link smiled grimly and followed on the back of the Giant's Dragon.
His target was finally clear; it was an end. He wasn't sure what that end would be, but for the life of him, it would be an end.
*************
Next Chapter:
Ok, so I miscalculated. Sorry already. I guess this was better though. I know you guys like reading long chapters, but who would want to go through 20-odd pages of my crap? Don't worry though, the final chapter is being written as you read this.
Link is back, and he's ready to tear the bad guys a new one, even at the cost of his own soul. Will that price be exacted? While the girls plan to defend Hyrule, Knata will be attempting the ultimate invocation of the Gerudo's Keepsake. Will he succeed in releasing Him, and if so, can even Link be enough to stem that evil tide? The end will come next Chapter (I promise), and I'll hope you'll join me. Please comment on anything you like or dislike, and I'll see you later. Thanks. (o'.')o