Altered States

Altered States

A Legend Of Zelda Fanfiction

By OJR

Part 7

The two combatants glared at each other across the field. Jamie's eyes narrowed as hi opponent stood ready, a cocky half-smile on his face. Well, he may not be experienced but now he had real power and he was going to have to learn how to use it. He was as useful as a chocolate fireguard if he couldn't fight. However, he knew deep inside that he was in for an uphill struggle.

"Now, Jamie, hit me…if you can." Link smiled, safe in the knowledge that right now the boy opposite him posed very little threat. Jamie dug his toes into the ground and charged, sword blazing in the midday sun. The clash of metal on metal resonated as the swords connected. The Master Sword seemed to chime with the strike, while Jamie felt the vibrations resonate through his bones. He'd put too much force into his initial charge and decided to turn his, now, overbalancing body into a shoulder barge. He jumped up to smash his shoulder into Links head but instead found himself leaping up, with the connected swords as a fulcrum, somersaulting him over his opponent. He landed, surprise evident in his eyes and was so shocked he barely brought his weapon up to deflect the vicious back swing from Link. He leapt back a few feet and regarded the situation.

"You're not too bad Jamie, I'm impressed. But you've got a long way to go." Link finished the sentence and mounted his own assault. Even without his strength giving gauntlets he was surprisingly powerful. Jamie deflected blow after blow, tiring more and more as Link slashed, stabbed and parried his way through most of Jamie's sword fighting knowledge. He noticed that Link was also looking weary and knew that his best bet was to rely on his stamina. He changed his stance slightly, making his body a smaller target to defend, but he wouldn't be able to attack very effectively this way. Unfortunately, Jamie had underestimated Links reserves of energy and was surprised as a fresh volley of blows rained down on him, threatening to snap his sword or rip his arms off. With a decisive swing, Link parried Jamie's sword away, causing the fatigued boy to drop his weapon. Jamie was almost relieved for it to be over but paled as he saw Link bring the sword round for the killer blow. He brought the razor edge down upon Jamie's head, and didn't even have time to wince as the blade stopped right on his scalp. Link laughed quietly at the cowering boy.

"Heh, you are indeed skilful, but you lack some control. Although what you lack in skill you more than make up for in stamina." Link collapsed into a sitting position and began to suck in huge lungfuls of air. He obviously wasn't as used to the close, smoggy atmosphere of Earth.

"Dude, you are entirely too good at this." Jamie put his head between his knees. He had recovered but his heart still pounded.

"Well, what can I say, it's my job." Link smiled weakly. It was only then they saw Zelda and Navi clapping and approaching the two.

"Very impressive, I feel better about this fight already." Zelda beamed at them. However, Jamie was apprehensive, he knew she meant the comment sincerely but she'd been very withdrawn after the prophecy the previous day. There was always something in her eyes that showed foreboding. And no matter how many jokes he cracked, or how much affection Link showed her there was always that doubt in those shimmering turquoise pools.

"Wow, you two really got it on! The was so amazing!" Navi was jumping about like a loon. She was now normally attired and looking rather cute in her dungarees and cap.

"And now, class, I'm going to pass you over to Zelda for you first magic lesson." Link addressed his class of one. Zelda stepped up and clasped Jamie's hands in hers.

"Now, feel me…" She closed her eyes.

"Huh? You want me to…" He didn't finish his sentence as his mind shook with a sensation not unlike taking your brain and turning it inside out while running 40,000 volts through it. His eyes shot open and the world collapsed in on him. The blue sky turned to white, then to black. The haze cleared and he found himself still hand in hand with Zelda. She let him go and he fell backward, landing heavily on nothing at all. He looked down to see the dizzying, stomach wrenching drop below him.

"Shit…!" He shot back to his feet, standing on the same invisible floor.

"Relax, you are perfectly safe." Zelda smiled warmly at him to reassure him that he was in no danger of plummeting to an adrenaline filled, if eventually squishy, death.

"I have taken your spirit and my own into a non-corporeal plain. Your body is several thousand feet below us, guarded by Link. I decided to show you the power of magic first hand to give you a unique perspective. Now, look inside yourself, what do you see?" This was, to say the least, cryptic. Jamie took a moment to reorient himself to his non-corporeal predicament. He closed his non-existent eyes, took an imaginary lungful of air that would defy breath normally. He did feel strange, like a power coursed through him, as if his blood had been replaced by rocket fuel. Zelda smiled.

"You feel it, don't you? Just as Link did, you feel the power that you have bestowed on you. I'll take us back to our bodies and show you how you can use your power." This was, of course, incorrect. They had never left their bodies, just used astral projection to have an out-of-body experience, which was about as close to being dead Jamie wanted to be for the foreseeable future. The laws of physics kicked back in with a thump, leaving Jamie with the feeling of having just woken up from a "falling" dream. Zelda immediately started about her lesson, standing behind Jamie and beginning a lesson-like explanation.

"There are three spells you will be able to cast without special training. They are channelled through a charm crystal. They can't be copied but you must learn how to use them as they may save your life." She took three crystals from Link and held the first up. It was stunningly beautiful, like a tetrahedral cut diamond with an orb of orange glowing energy at its centre.

"This" she said "is Din's Fire. It is destructively powerful, as you know, having seen Link use it yesterday." She looked very solemn.

"Yeah, I saw it all right. It was like he was a living napalm bomb!" Zelda was slightly puzzled by the statement but let it pass. She put it in his hand and he clasped it, feeling its warmth and power. Zelda sat a bag of flour next to Jamie.

"Now, I want you to destroy the bag using Din's Fire." She stood at a safe distance and began to call out instructions.

"Concentrate on the stone, let your power flow! Feel the energy course into the stone!" Zelda hoped he could 'see' the power flow to the jewel. Jamie wasn't having much luck. He concentrated his mind on the stone but found it difficult to even make it glow brightly. Link decided to step in.

"Jamie! Listen to me! The bag is your enemy! It must be destroyed!" Jamie nodded and concentrated on the thought of incinerating the bag. He felt the twinge in his hand as the jewel glowed fiercely.

"Who is your enemy?!"

"The bag is my enemy!"

"What must you do to your enemy?!"

"Destroy it!"

Link began to bark the mantra again.

"WHO IS YOUR ENEMY?!"

"The bag is my enemy!"

"WHAT MUST YOU DO?!"

"Destroy it!"

"WHO IS YOUR ENEMY?!"

"THE BAG!"

"WHAT MUST YOU DO?!"

"DESTROY!!" And with that Jamie cried out, letting a massive amount of power flow into the jewel in his hand. He slammed his fist into the floor and the hemisphere of burning light exploded around him in a brilliant shockwave. The bag was lifted by the force and was completely blown apart. The particles of flour inside ignited in a cloud of fire. The impressive display died down and left Jamie on one knee feeling a little drained in a five meter radius of charred ground.

"Wow…that was intense." Link stepped up and slapped him on the back.

"Well done! I'd almost think you were a hero." Jamie laughed weakly at the joke as he'd used a lot of power for the spell and felt he needed a rest. Zelda seemed to read his mind or, more accurately, actually did read his mind.

"Come on you two, when you're quite finished being macho heroes we can go back to Jamie's and rest, we'll continue tomorrow." Zelda started to walk off.

"Wow, she's some kind of lady…" Jamie gazed after her.

"Indeed, the best kind." Link also gazed, growing a small silly grin. They followed Zelda into the trees and home.

She turned, tears forming in her eyes. This was, to understate greatly, very bad. Her little boy was embarking on something huge. What, she didn't know. All she knew was that she had to let him do it, she didn't know why as it defied all her maternal instincts. But if the display of power today had been any indication, he would be well prepared to take on whatever task he had been set. She wiped the final tear away and chuckled lightly, cycling double-time to get back home first.

The troupe of heroes entered the house wearily, fatigue evident on their faces. Jamie trudged through to the kitchen and saw his mum drinking some tea. She seemed to be in thought and her eyes were puffy. He gently put his hands on her shoulders.

"Hi mum, what's wrong?"

"Hmm? Oh nothing…I just saw something odd on my way home from the shops."

"Is it ok?"

"I hope so love, I hope so. Just promise me something ok?"

"Of course, anything."

"Don't take any un-necessary risks, ok?"

"Ummm, sure…" Jamie backed off, slightly worried. She was on edge and he had a feeling why. However, he dismissed the thought and tried to be flippant.

"No prob mom, it's not like I'm gonna run off to save the world or anything." She smiled as if to say "of course not". But keeping a secret is hard, especially if the secret doesn't want to stay kept.

Authors note: I thought that was quite nice :) But tell me what you think. I'm loving you all for your support. This one goes out to Ian Gainsbourgh and dragon gurl. I'll do a dedications page and acknowledgements at the end.