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Author's note: The new chaptering system was the main delay behind this chapter – hopefully everything is sorted out as it should be now. Email me (at jon@zlda.com) if it isn't. Anyway, doesn't the new chaptering thing actually kind of invalidate your point StarDragon? Till next week.
Story so far: -
Tai, a gerudo, summoned the power of her god Nura and used the power to free Ganondorf Dragmire. Ganon captured Nura's power and used it to destroy Hyrule. However, Zelda and Link awake in the alternate dimension of Nurai, the land that Nura created, and also the homeland of the gerudos.
Tai also wakes up in Nurai, but discovers that Ganon who she always supposed to be her king, is actually not that role any more. He has not been for the last 17 years. Instead she decides to join a group of incredibly skilled warriors called the Xi, who may be able to tell her where the real gerudo king is. However, instead she finds that she no longer cares about the Gerudo king and just wants to learn about the Xi ways from her teacher Bren. While completing her second task she finds that for a brief moment that her body seems to control itself without her input.
Zelda is told that before the Nuran church will help her find other survivors from Hyrule she must do an undercover mission for them, and join up in Lain Tarn's crew as a pirate. She is given the new name of Hail as a joke, as Hail is the name of a mythical pirate queen who will come before the end of the world. However, after she saves the ship, the crew starts a mutiny and makes her captain. She finds that she can no longer remember about Zelda or anything that happened before she was Hail. She is given by a man some of the explosive material ever discovered, Calalite.
But others are conspiring against her, and in particular Oliver Black is planning to lead a massive coalition of the other pirates against her to stop he ever growing domination of the sea. After a meeting (during which he especially manages to impress them by killing an actor he had hired to pretend to be an assassin sent from the Actor's Guild) he manages to recruit enough comrades to set his ideas in motion.
Link is awakened by a priest of the Nuran church who is called Nala. However, while Link is still confined to bed a Kalen (a mysterious group who all the Nuran people seem to hate) breaks in a gives Link a mysterious broach.
Nala reveals that Link's coming and also the emergence of a mysterious pirate queen called Hail are all part of a prophecy. This prophecy predicts that the world will come to an end in a time called the Distile. The only chance Link has to stop it is to find the six sages who are somewhere in Nura. Hoping to recruit more help Link and Nala travel to Nurai's capital Asreal where they are due to meet in the Glass Temple. Link meets an Xi calling herself Tanya and the two become uneasy friends.
Nurai's history is revealed to Link in a meeting inside the Glass Temple, however half way through an earthquake (one of the prophesied signs of the Distile) strikes. While trying to evacuate the building a huge D'Ran knife that long ago had been used in sacrifices falls to the floor. To the horror of Nala and Tanya it falls on Link and kills him. Link finds himself in a place beyond death, where those that call themselves gods live. He learns here that his infinite chances have run out, and he has only one left. Here all knowledge is stored and much of it flows into his head. He learns of an old man called Rein who was struck by lightning while being attacked by a wolf, and also of Hail's plans to defend herself against Black.
Black's forces approach Hail's although he decides to leave them before the battle begins after learning their position from his spy on board Hail's ship – Lain Tarn. The two forces meet in a colossal battle, but at least for the moment Hail seems to get the better of it.
When Link returns once again into the real world he has lost all his memories, although a witch manages to restore them through Nala at least far back as the two met. He continues to dream of Rein, who became after he was struck by the lightning, a wondering spirit who inhabited people's bodies until they died.
He awakes after one of these dreams to be told by Tanya that her real and original name was Tai. He continues to dream about Rein and later realises that his spirit is actually now inhabiting Tai. He manages to set it free, but instead it travels into Bren, one of its old companions. It will be impossible to ever split them again...
Twelve
Lain Tarn could not believe Hail's luck. Nearly every shot from the Pride and the Flame seemed almost destined to hit their targets perfectly while the enemy had trouble of aiming within five metres of them. At this rate Hail might even win the battle. Not that it seemed that she cared. She must have already anticipated her victory as for the last few hours she had not left her room.
Lain wondered if she was already planning the next battle right at this moment. Surely it couldn't hurt to just see how she was and what she was plotting. Maybe Lain could learn something about Hail's ways and means.
Motioning to another Gerudo to take charge Lain walked across to the wooden door of Hail's cabin and stopped for a moment by to listen in. She could hear nothing, but with Hail that meant nothing, and so she knocked first. When she heard no answer, she took a deep breath in (for Hail was known to be unpredictable at the best of times) and entered. There was just a body lying the bed, face down and seemingly sleeping. So why couldn't she still hear any breathing? Lain walked curiously forward at first, and then as an awful idea struck she sprinted over to the bed and threw the covers off it. The body was just a few neatly arranged cushions under the cover.
Her face was covered in horror as total realisation hit her mind.
"She..."
*-*
At last Black's own flag ship was drawn into the battle and came crashing through the waves towards the Pride. It was a ship of the type that had not been seen commonly on the seas for many generations, a towering vessel which could easily hold over a hundred men. It exuded confidence, and despite the failure of their allies and the absence of their captain, no man or woman or that galleon was afraid.
Its first attack was arguably the most lethal; a hidden troop of Xis springing off the side of it and towards Hail's fleet. But its second was more devastating, and this time not every one of that rain of cannon shot could miss. Thrice, four times the Pride was hit, and each shot dented it and its confidence badly.
Fear returned to Hail's troops and they madly tried to steer away from that awesome power and to douse the resulting fires when they should have attacked with all they had. And worse of all, they dared to ignore the oncoming Xi.
Even as they put out the flames the Xi swung over the side of the deck and let loose with their weapons. Some of the pirates ran to fight them off, but it was a useless gesture. To the Xi, they could have been children their attacks were so ineffective. For a full 30 seconds the Xi continued their slaughter, and then, as if from some ordained signal they leapt back into the seas.
A moment later and another torrent of cannon fire was let loose onto the ship, and this time it was damaged even more severely. To their left the 'Red Flame' had been trying to help, but she herself was now being assaulted by two of Black's navy.
But now Black's flag ship was getting some of its own medicine. Hail's Xi had returned, and they were bent on revenge. Black's forces had not been as short-sighted as to leave their ship totally undefended and their were still some Xi waiting on it. Soon the two groups were fighting across the breadth of the ship, and everywhere the pirates tried to dive out of its way. But not all of them were successful, and in particular, one of the men aiming a cannon was killed.
Behind him was a seventeen year old boy, and he eagerly stepped forward to take over. For a full minute he played around with its direction, until it was as he wanted it exactly. Then he took in a deep breath, and waited for that all important command. Eventually, the invading Xi were defeated and the ship was back under control, and then the command came.
His shot was better than he could have ever dreamed of, in aim at least. Beautifully it arced across the sky and down unto the already weakened deck. There it easily penetrated and continued its aggressive descent. It broke through one more floor but there was stopped sharp by a barrel. A barrel of gun powder.
A smile widened on his face, a good emotion to express, especially as it would be the one he died with. He watched in delight as the ship blew itself apart into a thousand flying pieces, and he joined in with the general cheer.
One, two, three. In the olden days that had always been the count under everyone's breath at an explosion, the count which ensured safety. But those under Black were too young to remember such lore and some even turned before the count would have been up.
For the explosion of the 'Pride' was but the spark before the fire, the breeze before the gale. Out of the explosion came a new sphere of destruction and this one travelled almost as fast as the light which showed it. Where it travelled only dust and steam remained, and even those not in high quantities. It grew, and grew, and soon the 'Red Flame' and Black's front line were absorbed into the funeral pyre.
Those who were on the further away ships had a few moments before it hit, and some of them had the reactions enough to dive into the sea and try to escape. But it was futile and only led to their death taking place while they were still in mid air. Many bowed their eyes and prayed, for still they did not know that their god was a prisoner.
A small island was located a few miles away, and on it lived a modest community. Many of them could not believe their eyes at that moment, for it seemed that there was not just one sun up above, but one even stronger down below. Those who looked too close regretted it, for from that day they would never again be able to see again
They who looked after the sun had gone could almost not believe it. Where before had been a fleet, now was just a boiling sea and a dreadful black smog. There was no sign that any human had ever existed there.
Long ago Calalite had started a war, and now it had ended one.
*-*
The streets of Asreal were mostly empty as Oliver Black walked through them. Now was the time for drawing back and contemplating his next move. He was in no hurry, his enemies and friends alike thought that he was dead. He may have lost a battle, but he was convinced he could still win a war. He may have lost 50 ships, but that was only for the better in many ways. Once he had beaten Hail there would be no competition left. He would become King of the Seas. There were always other less direct ways of dealing with her.
Still plotting, he didn't notice the figure creeping up under the cover of the setting sun or even the weapon it drew. Only when it was too late did he discover the blade that was now struck through his chest. Silently, he sank to the floor, not quite believing the blood that was pouring from his chest. His eyes looked upwards for one last time and he saw the hated figure of a Xi walking away.
Behind her there was a piece of paper dropped and Black with his last strength crept slowly towards it and clutched the note with a still responding hand, his body so absorbed that it did not even notice the ground moving.
It read simply:
'The Actor's Guild.'
*-*
Link found himself lying on the floor as the earth shook. Quietly he rubbed his eyes, stood up, and instinctively reached for his sword. It was happening again... Please, let it not happen again.
Putting on a old tunic and the belt he always wore, he judged his easiest way to escape.
A beam of timber from the roof fell down behind him, and a few seconds later the doorway collapsed, making up his mind. Grabbing a rope from his belt he tied a strong knot around the legs of one of the beds, barely dodging the falling masonry as he did so. He pulled sharply on the rope to test the knot, and then looped it around his hands. Finally, he ran across to the open window and almost leapt out of it, holding tightly onto the rope.
His window was around 100 metres above the ground level, but his rope was only around 30 metres long. The rope stopped him falling with a jolt, and grabbing his Big Goron sword, he thrust it into the wall. He had two ropes of the same size left and knotting their ends together, he placed the rope in a loop around the sword, and let himself drop again. This time when the rope stopped he was a terrifying 15 metres high and to his horror he had no choice but to jump down onto the threatening stone below. He fell roughly down on his legs, gasping at the shock. Somehow he managed to stay standing, although the pain was already racing upwards from his feet. He hobbled forward, already knowing that his left leg was broken, and that he had lost his treasured sword.
As he stood there huge drops of rain fell from the dark clouds in the sky to accompany a now familiar bolt of lightning. He scanning the near area for a safe place to shelter but instead his eyes glanced onto a figure high above. It was steadily climbing down the wall of the left wing of the Glass Temple, a tiny size compared to height of the main temple to be sure and one that was made out of stone bricks, but it was still a next to impossible climb. Link could see no convenient cracks and the gaps in between the bricks a foot would hardly have been able to get into. But this figure was managing it, and even though they were coming closer and closer Link could still not tell how they were doing it.
It was climbing down at the rate of around a metre a second, and after watching the figure for a few moments, spellbound, Link saw it reach his own sword. The figure grabbed it out of the wall and then threw it strongly downwards. After an instant Link realised to his shock that it was aimed right at him. His legs tried to jump away, but they still rebelled and he knew that it would be too late...
It was – or would have been if his eyes had not misjudged the sword's target. It fell harmlessly onto the ground right before him. Dazedly, Link picked up, now not only amazed by the climbing, but also by the strength and aim. The night was dark, and it was only when the lightning crashed down nearby that Link could see the person's flowing hair. The figure dropped from a height twice as high as he had done, but still managed not to flinch at impact. As it ran towards him, he saw who it was.
"How?" he asked, amazed.
Tai replied, "I'm an Xi."
A huge crash interrupted their conversation, and they spun around to see what had happened. But whatever in that moment as they span they might have thought, they would never have been able to guess the truth.
The lightning had crashed right into the peak of a distant mountain, completely obliterating its peak and sending out a hail of rubble and fire. From that hellish light Link could just make out a huge ominous dark cloud swarming out of the mountain, and collecting as in a ring around it.
A ring around a mountain? His head tripped up over the words and something in his head longed to be set free. He knew not whether it was his own or another's memory but whatever the truth he tried to pursue it. And his hunt was succeeding, for images were floating in his head, of another mountain and a small village under it. Of a monstrous golden beast who's solemnity was in the process of being destroyed beyond repair by a ridiculous dance. And of a song, a vibrant and fresh song taught to him by...
"They're coming."
The involuntary gasp turned into words abruptly ended his chase and his focus was once again thrust upon the far off cloud. The mist around it was no longer encircling, but oncoming and its very sight seemed to welcome despair and loathing. For a strange moment in time the two on the street were alike with the rest of the city and the district in that their eyes were only looking for that terrible smoke.
From sight it should be sickly slow, but even with his limited geography Link knew that the violated peak was at least 20 miles away and that the dark cloud had already covered half of that distance. The next half was no slower and soon they knew would know of its charge into the city.
But after that few seconds had gone by they could hear where it had hit, and hear as it approached by the scream it let loose. It was a scream that one never forgets – that is not to haunt one in nightmares but always in day, always to return when it was finally thought to be conquered.
To Link it seemed like a thousand voices at once desperate and helpless to pain but also angry and begging, asking him again and again why he did not help. It made him both want to run to aid, but more, much more, want to turn and flee, and flee till his legs could not be dragged along any longer.
To Tai it was young, old, but always at the front her mother and her victims, and only then did she realise how lenient her K'Tan had been. It was Ganon's smooth voice, and even her own grovelling. But most of all it was a harsh laugh, telling her to run to her god and to see if she could protect her better than she had done to them. And at the back there was one last sound, the sound of Link's shock when he knew her truth.
If it could be said to have a word in it, it would be a low moan of 'Distile', a reminder of the thing that no one would ever be able to doubt the coming of again. It was a clear sign – it has come, and it will not stop for you or anyone else..
The cloud had seemed to disappear into just a dark murk, but the terror that had been inside it had done a change to the opposite and become bright and defined. Link saw them first, taking the form of two huge birds flying down the now wrecked street. It was their cruel grin and hooked beak that he remember more so than their skin, even though that was the most terrible thing about them. For these creatures did not even have the weakness of flesh, and instead their body was of cold steel. Liquid steel, and fluid for these things could never be slow, but still strong as any metal. The birds swooped closer to the ground and then they revealed the true extent of themselves, for their shapes flowed instead into that of two warriors.
And these warriors were worse than the birds, for even in their shape alone they were a mockery of the human body, a smooth unstoppable giant that begged to be compared to their soft and malleable skin. The eyes did not even give the pleasure of glowing, instead remaining dull but sharp, pinpricks that led into nowhere but an eternal winter.
Seemingly uselessly Tai drew her weapons and sprinted at them, as it was the only thing that she could do. Her first blade was easily blocked by one of the warrior's own (if it could be called blade, for it grew out of his own hand) and similarly with the left. But still she fought on, knowing that if she stopped that her whole life would end and be in vain.
The other ignored her and ran over to the green warrior in front of him. Drawing his sword weakly, Link could still feel the pain running through his leg. His opponent lifted his weapon and swung it powerfully at Link, who could only lift his own sword feebly in protest. It span out of his hands and Link dropped to the floor, the enemy's strike causing a deep scar on his chest.
Still Tai fought on, bravely defending against an enemy twice her strength. Each time she blocked one of his attacks her very bones shuddered and she despaired of going on. Her eyes glanced momentarily at her fallen friend and the distraction cost her dearly, but still she struggled on, even as her hand seemed to come to a stop. She had no way to help Link but she couldn't help knowing that it was over for him.
And the other should have known it too as he lay on the cold stone, his breath roughly forcing itself in and out of him. Even as his opponent slid ever closer he flung his way through his limited memory, desperate for some help. Maybe one day before the first shake of the ground he would have known some way, but now his heart was empty.
One sword thrust was stronger than the rest and Tai found herself involuntarily swept off her feet. There she lay also, and she could not find the strength to rise. But then ever as she prepared for the end she felt something warm beside her, a gentle nuzzle from a friend she had long forgotten. The horse she had ridden on to Asreal had come to find its mistress, and as it seemed, to die with her. She smiled as the creature gently neighed.
"Epona."
Link's mind could see her now, her deep, dark and warm eyes, a nice thing to die remembering. If only those eyes wouldn't keep distracting him and glancing upwards. Finally he gave in, even as a sword was hurtling towards him and he looked up. And there, still marked high on the wall it fluttered bravely.
Deep, deeper than even his heart, within him Link felt something stir. And then a gigantic force burst out of it, like a river finally breaking its dam. It smashed its way out of his body and soared upwards from his chest into the metal blackness above.
It was a golden beam of hope, and it effortlessly tore through the iron enemy and into the heavens above. His chest and leg healed Link stared up at the mist where his should be killer had been and where now only gold rose in a beacon against the stars.
In an instant it was answered, and galloping down from the sky came a fierce animal, it too made of gold. It flew down to the street where Tai and her horse were fighting, and only then could Link make out that it was of that kind as well. But already it was charging, through another dissolved foe and then down the road ahead. This Epona (for her it had been) of light sprinted through the city and where it advanced the dark retreated .
A dark cloud again it was, and a cloud racing backwards through the sky, a cloud no longer terrifying but terrified. It reached its mountain, and crept back in, trying to hide from that at its tail. Then the rocks that had flew out from the mountain top returned, and it was rebuilt until it was a stronger prison than it had even been before. A bright glow and then the horse was gone, but so was the dark.
Almost not surprised Link accepted the brown horse now standing beside him, almost a mirror of that by Tai. And then he noticed the back of his wrist. A symbol had appeared on it, and it was shining brightly.
The Triforce.
END OF BOOK ONE