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Author's note: Now this is a record for getting a new chapter up. Two in one night. Somehow that's still given time for my most reviews for ages. Thanks to John and Rich.
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 given the new name of Hail as a joke when she is forced to become a pirate. But gradually she finds that she can no longer remember her old life, and her old thoughts and emotions seem invalid. She takes over as the pirate captain and soon her name reverberates around the country as one to be feared. For Hail is the prophesised figure who will appear shortly before the Distile, the end of the world. This new 'Hail' seems to live up to the legacy that had been told of – not even a fleet fifty times bigger than hers can defeated her.
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 is also foretold of in the stories of 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. Here Link meets Tai (although he does not know who she is) 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.
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 later realises that Rein's 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.
But there is worse, much worse coming. There is another earthquake and in this one Nurai's worse enemy – the Sadia – is set free. A mysterious metallic people, they can change their shape at will. Within a few seconds they have travelled several miles from what was their mountain prison to Asreal.
Link battles one, but is easily defeated. In the last moment before what would be his death he unconsciously calls on the power of the Triforce and the Sadia are banished back into their mountain prison.
Deciding that the time has come to rescue the sages the church organises two groups to scout out likely areas for where they may be imprisoned. Nala and a small army are lucky, and quickly manage to find and rescue Impa and Rauru. Link, Tai and Bren manage to defeat the temple guardian they are assigned to and rescue Saria and Darunia. Bren gives a potion to Link and Saria which puts them into a strange sleep. Here Link enters Saria's mind and regains his memories. But the temple guardian awakes later, and as a last revenge, he releases the Sadia again.
Hail is met by Ganondorf who tells her her ultimate destiny – to first clean the Gerudo blood by killing all the man and then to kill Nura herself.
Bren gives a potion to Link and Saria which puts them into a strange sleep. Here Link enters Saria's mind and regains his memories.
Sixteen
The ground was shaking.
Raymus was safe, but he was one of few. Hundreds of people were running through the streets of Asreal, desperately trying to escape from the tumbling city. Every other second another building crashed down into the streets, the previously supporting stones turning into rubble.
The city had bravely stood one earthquake and the majority of it had even survived the second. But the cracks that had been formed in the first two were only widened in the third disaster. It did not matter any more whether there was any more earthquakes. The city could hardly have been ruined any further.
The only building that was still somehow standing was the Glass Temple. Raymus could remember it starting to break in the first (he still shuddered at the memory of Link's 'death') but now the majority of it was still bravely rising above the rest of the city; a rebelling thrust against the carnage below.
The Church Imperial Trade Centre suddenly shook too heavily. Already the letters which made up its name (including the 'T' which had saved Link and Tai's lives) had smashed into the ground shortly and not the rest of the building was followed them. Raymus hoped that it had been evacuated.
One particularly violent jerk knocked to Raymus to the floor, where he stayed for a few moments, breathing hard and groaning. He was just getting up when the dark cloudy sky began using its force. Lightning tore down on the city but to his surprise Raymus noticed that there was no rain.
A moment later he was wishing strongly that there was. The wooden buildings had caught fire and the wind was spreading it quickly. At this rate there would be nothing left.
Dozens of people were still pouring out of the city gates into the relative safety of the outside fields. Some of them were nearly caught in an avalanche of stone as the city walls began to fall down. Most of them escaped, but another twenty or so were caught, and killed as sacrifices to nature's power. The survivors joined the crowd and half of them started praying to Nura – not yet guessing that she could not help them.
"Sir," said the voice of a young soldier from just behind Raymus.
The priest turned around and took the message that the soldier was handing out. Quickly he tore off its seal and unfolded it. It was short, but enough to put Raymus in an even worse mood:
"Urgent reinforcements needed quickly. Pirate group has started attacking local villages. Kills only men. Rumours of Hail leading. Other colonies totally wiped out. People talk of Sadian attacks. Death toll in hundreds"
The sender obviously had not had a lot of time to write his message. Raymus realised then that he had an important decision to make. They would need many soldiers here to help rebuild, but he also knew that many other cities would have suffered. The army would have been stretched to it limits to keep it here and he guessed that there was no real point. If the Sadia and Hail had really started attacking they would soon move up here if they weren't quickly stopped.
Thankful that the earthquake had finally stopped he ran to the emergency medical tent which had already been put up and found some parchment and a pen.
Quickly he wrote to the head of the army:
"Chake, the Sadia have reappeared and have attacked in the south. Your army will be overwhelmed if you try to stop them on your own but I am ordering the Xi to help you.
However, we have another problem. The real Hail has started to fulfil the secret prophecies and will be a danger to all male soldiers and civilians. Find her as soon as possible, hopefully she will not be a match for a real army.
I am going to see if the legends are true. If the Kalen really do still survive partially I will find them and implore them to help. We have to delay the Distile as long as possible to give the Hylinian hero long enough to find the sages.
Raymus "
The young soldier was standing to attention again nearby, and so Raymus handed it over to him, and instructed him to see it delivered. Somehow that soldier had the look of a man who could get a job done.
Unfortunately for Raymus, he didn't know whom the soldier would want to get a job done for. Kaze almost smiled as he walked off, looking for a safe distance to dispose of his uniform. It was time to return – the others could handle Asreal information, or what would be left of it. The action had left the city now, and he knew not where it was heading. It was all coming to a head, he could sense that the pressure would explode soon.
He wouldn't dare miss it.
*-*
The Balavian ball's was formally supposed to be a dismal air, and even the Nuran nobles couldn't help being slightly concerned by the disturbing rumours that kept pouring in. Luckily for the spirit of the party the news about Asreal and the Sadia hadn't reached them yet. In fact the general opinion was as long as the army soon got to work and the weather calmed down a bit that the disasters could actually initiate some new business opportunities.
Lord Balavia certainly seemed to be enjoying himself, and even let his normally strict self-regulation over alcohol slip. But he reflected, he was allowed to enjoy himself sometimes. The music was excellent, he had managed to persuade the Lelians to deign him with a visit and they hadn't even had a single fight yet. Then again, maybe that last one would make the party more fun. Suddenly he saw a pretty girl beckoning him, and smiling he put down his drink he walked over to her.
Silently they started to dance, and to his surprise Balavia found himself even forgetting the people watching them. There was something strange about, something captivating. And yet no matter how hard he thought he couldn't remember who she was, or what family she belonged to. Yet she obviously belonged here, there was no mistaking the dignity of her movements.
Finally the curiosity overcame him. "I'm sorry," he said. "What is your name?"
She smiled. "You know my name."
He laughed. If it was a girl she wanted...
"Come on," she laughed too, and it was so infectious that he found himself laughing again along with her. "Go on – it's not that hard. Just try to describe me."
"Ok..." he said. "Let's see... Red hair, middlish height, beautiful face, and dazzling red eyes." He stopped and looked at her, trying to shrug off a vague thought that was disturbing him.
"You forgot something," she said, still smiling and innocent. "A sword hold right before you, and about to do some terrible damage."
His eyes glazed over and he stared down at the blade she had indeed brought between the shelter of their two bodies. "Hail."
"Good guess," she told him, and plunged in the blade. A second and a turn later, and she was heading back towards the front door. For a moment a speechless crowd stared at her. And then as she was about to walk out, her followers burst in and passed her by.
For a good five minutes walk away from she could still hear the screams, and thanks to them, she managed to keep the smile on her face.
*-*
True to Bren's expectations the last night had been a long one of explaining, and so far the morning had not been that much more difficult. His Goron companion seemed to have a talent for asking limitless questions, and finding oneself in a new land didn't exactly give a small amount of source material. Still, his latest question was a sensible one.
"How does it work?" Darunia had asked, referring to the potion which Link and Saria had taken. If it worked it should give Link his original memories back.
Bren considered for a moment and then replied, "I'm not sure really. The witch who gave it to me said that it links their minds. Not strongly, which would require someone with great mental strength, but enough to transfer information and memories quickly. I think one mind tends to dominate the other unless they are perfectly matched. Apart from that..."
Bren shrugged.
"I should imagine they'd have to negotiate," remarked Rein.
"What do you mean?" the Goron said sharply. He was worried about Link and Saria who should have woken by now, and didn't quite trust Bren's parasite companion (explaining their relationship must have taken at least an hour).
"Minds are awfully greedy things," Rein explained, "they tend to want as much information as they can get. When someone's subconscious takes over you'd be surprised to how vicious it can get."
"They'll be awake soon," Bren said firmly, trying to reassure himself more than anyone else.
The Goron nodded thoughtfully and turned to look at the horizon.
"What is that?" he asked puzzled pointing at a small black dot in the sky.
"I'm not sure..." Bren tried to make it out, "Its coming closer whatever it is."
Warily, the Goron went to pick up the huge sword that Bren had lent him. He was not used to the weapon, but with his enormous strength he could still be a formidable warrior. Or at least so Bren hoped.
Tai silently appeared behind her teacher and stared hard at the dot.
"It's the Sadia," she said quietly, her voice not able to stop the fear and tension leaking out. None of them even bothered to make an expression of surprise. The atmosphere of the world at the moment seemed to naturally depress, and make you suspect the worse.
Bren stared at her for a moment, but if she was right there was no time to argue. First he had to wake the sleepers – it might be dangerous, but it was nowhere near as bad as leaving them defenceless against the Sadia. He sprinted over to their tent and shook them roughly, muttering a quick prayer that they would be all right. Then he silently cursed as he remembered – Nura couldn't help him at the moment.
Link woke first. For a moment he stared up at Bren, but then he noticed his face.
"What's wrong?" he said, his voice sounding husky and weak.
"Tai thinks that's she seen the Sadia," Bren said simply.
Immediately Link jumped up.
"Take Saria into hiding," he said quietly, his voice now determined and strong.
Bren nodded, picked Saria up as she slowly stirred awake. He jogged out of the tent and towards the small woods nearby.
Link grabbed his sword and ran out into the open where he could already see Tai and Darunia standing ready. There was no doubt about who it was now. He could already make out two metallic eagles soaring quickly down to them.
Even as he was sprinting towards his friends he saw the creatures morph into two huge warriors. One leapt at Tai, the other at Darunia. Tai darted past the sword bow aimed at her and swung her own weapon at the monsters chest. The creature grasped her in an iron grip but she managed to kick her way loose.
Darunia hadn't been so lucky. The warrior managed to knock his sword out of his hand in one swipe and then with another sent him unconscious to the floor. The creature rose his sword again to stab the Goron through the heart...
But Link blocked him. Even as he fought he could feel the knowledge from Hyrule reawakening, and he tried to forget the things that kept pouring out with it: Zelda, Malon, Epona, and the Deku Tree... He could think about them later. H HMeaMeanwhile he had the fight of his life going on with this steel demon he was fighting. The Sadia tried again and again to get its sword through to Link's chest but he blocked every strike fairly easily.
"Is that he best you can do?" he mocked – he was in no mood to think of original lines.
Angrily the creature put all its energy into one mighty swing. He easily sidestepped it and pushed his own sword through the creature's heart. Stunned, it dissolved into a stream of water that seemed to slowly melt into the ground. Breathing hard, he turned round to find the other.
Tai was finding it harder work. She was not as strong as Link and parrying the creature's attacks hurt her dearly. Desperately she instead dodged all its blows trying to find a gap somewhere. But the creature was nearly as quick as she was and it was hard work fighting it.
She was just blocking one particularly strong attack when her opponent disintegrated too. Link's smiling face with his sword outstretched appeared from behind the creature's dissipating body. He had got it from the back.
"That was my kill!" she protested weakly.
The smile dropped off Link's face as a scream suddenly cut through the silence.
"Saria!" he shouted.
With one glance Tai and he instantaneously span around and sprinted back to the woods.
There they could just make out Bren bravely trying to fight off a third Sadia which had sneaked in while they were still busy with the other two. This one looked bigger, and somehow tougher. Suddenly Bren was knocked down to the floor, but to the Sadia's surprise he was up again in an instant. Bren may have blacked out – but Rein was still there and he had hundreds of years of experience to rely on.
But Bren's body couldn't stand much more and eventually Rein finally dropped too, leaving the creature to run on to where Saria was standing, shouting for help. She turned to run, but the Sadia easily caught up with her and roughly pulled her back.
Link was running like he had never run before, desperate to catch up with her. Even Tai couldn't keep up with him.
Then she stumbled and fell to the floor. Link turned for an instant, realised his mistake and started to sprint again. But even he could not run as fast as the wind. The Sadia had an extra instant; an instant long enough for it to do its desire.
For an instant which might have lasted forever, its sword gleamed in the light. Then it tore its way down through the air; nothing left to stop it. The cruel blade cut easily through the young girl's tender flesh; cutting the precious arteries which had kept Saria alive, and releasing a torrent of precious red.
Too late Link reached the clearing where Saria was.
Too late he managed to push his sword through the Sadia's chest.
Too late he had stopped it.
And as he cried over his best friend's body he realised that no one was immortal. Saria tried to speak. Her mouth wouldn't let her.
Silently, she died.