Altered States

Altered States

A Legend of Zelda Fanfiction

By OJR

Part 9

Zero hour, D-day, endgame, shit hits fan, whatever you wanted to call it, it was today.  The ominous air that hung over the peaceful suburb was testament to the fact that something evil was abroad, and it'd chosen Bearwood to do it.  Our heroes were in the house today, mentally preparing for the inevitable battle ahead while the family were out shopping in town.  Zelda had put all three of them into a deep trance, almost a coma, where most non-essential body functions slowed to near stopping and the mind was completely at peace to be focused.  Of course this is not possible if you are not imbued with the magic that our heroes were.  For Jamie, especially, this was an eye opening experience to say the least.  Floating, once again in the non-corporeal plain, he had chance to really feel the power flow.  Over the ether, Link spoke to him.

"You do know that this is going to be tough, don't you?"

"Man, you really don't have to remind me of that."  His spiritual form gave a little shudder as the thought of facing down a real demon of evil struck him.  However, he knew he was in good company, as Link had defeated more spirits, ghouls, monsters and miscreants than he'd had hot dinners, well, almost.  He'd even taken down the King of Evil himself, single-handed, and still went on to avert a mini apocalypse. Yes, he was in good company indeed.

"Are you still troubled by your fate Jamie?  There's nothing to fear, for you have grown much very quickly."  Zelda soothed him, letting him feel her presence as a guiding light, of sorts.  Yet, no matter how much focus or comforting was offered, the tension would not ease.  It only got worse when something troubling struck Jamie.

"Hey, what am I going to do about my family?  They'll be a little bit worried when I go striding out of the house with you two in full battle gear."  This was, indeed, a problem.  There was only one solution, and it wasn't particularly pleasant, but it had to be done.

Jamie called his family into the sitting room as soon as he returned.  The sun was getting a little lower and the orange glow filled the room with a warm light.  His mother, father and sisters sat there; oblivious to the fact that two floors above them Zelda and Link were making the first preparations for battle.  Jamie cleared his throat.

"I guess you're all wondering why I called you here.  Well…I have a confession to make…"  His words trailed off as he pondered how to phrase this correctly.  It's a bit ludicrous to expect them to swallow "Hey, these two heroes from another world appeared out of thin air and I've got to go risk my life because I helped them."  His train of thought was violently derailed when his mum spoke up suddenly.

"I know…I know that something is happening.  I know those two aren't from America, or are your pen friends." Her eyes became watery and her voice began to crack.  "All I know is that you're different from the Jamie of a week ago, more powerful, and you have a job to do…" She was fighting to control the tears that now streamed down her cheeks.  "Just please be careful."  And with that, she leapt up and grabbed her son in a bear hug.  The rest of the family looked shocked, speechless.  His dad was shaking his head and the two sisters looked like they were about to cry.  Jamie himself had to swallow down the lump.  Link stepped into the doorway.

"Jamie, it is time."  Jamie broke from his mothers grasp and headed upstairs.  Outside, dark clouds rolled over the horizon, lightning began to score the sky and thunder rattled the window.  The crescendo increased in intensity into the night.  However, the night was far from dark.  The angry clouds now glowed red, a crimson hue gave the area a gruesome, bloody look.  Of course the streets were deserted.  Even the evangelists and preachers who cried out from the street corners had retreated to cover, thinking their predictions of a coming apocalypse were not unfounded.  Unfortunately, they were correct.

Jamie had retreated to his room to think, as the night wore on and midnight approached the feeling of foreboding grew in intensity.  The despair and dread was almost tangible as the storm raged on.  In the attic room Zelda and Link prepared for the battle, sorting potions, arranging weapons and such like.  In the middle of checking her Sheikah armour, Zelda looked up.  A tear was forming in her eye and she spoke to Link in a quiet, subdued voice.

"Link, this isn't going to be easy, is it?"  She looked a little shaken and worry played across her features.

"Don't worry, my princess, I'll protect you.  I always do."  He cracked a half-smile, reassuringly placing a hand on her cheek.  She clasped it to her face and let the tear roll down her cheek.

"Link…" she began "this is a great force of evil, almost as powerful as Ganon…don't underestimate it…I couldn't bear it if…"  She couldn't finish her sentence as a loud sob shook her body.  Link gathered her into his arms.  He lifted her chin gently between his thumb and forefinger and brushed his lips against hers.

"We kicked Ganon around before, and now we have an extra bit of help form Jamie, this guy's not going to have his way."  Link smiled, becoming a little confident in the victory he sought, possibly for the first time all week.  He glanced at the clock, 8 o'clock, that only left 4 hours.  4 hours to prepare, 4 hours to strategize 4 hours to…

"Link…I want you to take me away from the hurt…"  Zelda looked up at him, face flushed.

"How do you mean love?"  in answer to his question she smiled and lifted off her top, sinking into his arms once again.  He was slightly taken aback by her amorous advances, but could see her reasoning.  She sometimes got like this if something big came up, just in case Link couldn't make it back.  He gently stroked her face, wishing he could take the pain away.  The whole chain of events had shaken her up and she really needed some relief from the despair.  His lips brushed against hers.  She closed her eyes surrendering to his grasp as he laid her down.  It was an hour before either of them felt the pain again.

Midnight approached and all was ready.  Zelda was resplendent in her loose fitting combat gear.  Link was also suited up, but traded his breaches for some hardwearing combat trousers and boots, noting how much more durable the synthetics were.  Jamie was also dressed for combat, in thick jeans, t-shirt and a heavy leather jacket.  He'd also put elbow, knee and shin guards on under his clothes to give a little added surprise to his strikes.  All armed, all dangerous.  Suddenly a voice boomed out.  It resonated around the suburb like a great thunderclap.  The already terrified citizens felt even less safe in their homes as they cowered against the voice.  It said simply this.

"Death to all."  And faded.  Zelda turned to her compatriots.

"The woods, it's going to appear in the woods."  She sprinted off and soon they were at the threshold to the field.  A few police cars had already turned up but they stayed at the periphery, as nothing had happened as yet.  Navi stayed behind and started to cast a spell upon herself.  She shimmered and metamorphosed, once again returning to her fairy form.  All that remained of 'Nancy' was a pile of children's clothes.

"Are we all ready?"  Link gave an aura of confidence that helped a little.

"Not a chance in hell man…but I'm with you all the way."  Jamie smiled.

"You know, if things start going bad…" Zelda started

"I go and protect the innocents, yes mommy, Jamie understand good."  She chuckled a little.  Their little tension-breaking psyche up was shattered as Kelly and Hannah, recognisable as Jamie's sisters, bounded up.

"Be careful Jay, don't take any risks…if you need any help…"  Kelly seemed to have boundless confidence, but it was obviously a mask.  Jamie chuckled.

"Don't worry sis, if I need you I'll holler."  Suddenly, Irene arrived.  She grabbed him in a hug.  His mum looked on the edge of tears.  "I knew there was no other way…just…come back alive…"  She smiled weakly, hoping that these nightmarish events were just a bad dream.  Jamie grabbed his siblings by the arms and ushered them to their mother.

"Get away from here, as far as you can…please…I'll be OK."  Jamie smiled a little as they were about to leave but Irene left a parting comment.

"Link!  Take care of my boy!"  came the shouted reply from the retreating figure.  The main reason for the shouting was that the wind had whipped up around them and was buffeting the trees with massive force.  The three turned.

Another nothingth of a millimetre appeared.  It grew quickly and soon the swirling vortex appeared, framed by whipping winds and grey green grass.  There was a darkness emanating from it.  25 metres away, the three stood, facing the abomination to all scientific laws.  But the laws of physics could take a flying leap at this point, it was magic and magic alone that powered this beast.  Within the swirl a form appeared, small at first, but growing, as if travelling toward them at speed.  It was spewed out of the swirl into the field, a creature of vile and wicked nature.  It's appearance was that of a black skeleton, red orbs of light as eyes, with what can only be described as blackened, rotting flesh dripping from it's extremities.  It didn't looked threatening, until it roared.  A roar that encompassed all your worst fears, then magnified and distorted them to unimaginably horrific levels.  The only ones adamant not to keep their distance were three teenagers and a fairy.  Zelda looked stern, Link's face was a mask of concentration and Jamie was quietly speaking to himself.

"We're gonna go, and we're gonna get some…" he quoted.  It was the only thing he could think of and any foothold in this maelstrom of fear was a welcome one.  The ghastly, gaunt figure spoke, sounding like a thousand malevolent whispers rolled into one.

"Aaaah…you are here…bear witness mortals, for I am now your ruler.  Pledge your souls to me and your deaths will be painless."  The skull twisted into a smirk.

"Ready…?"  Link took a ready stance.  The others spread wider.  Without warning the creature held up it's hand and a fiery pulse shot toward Link.  He didn't have time to react fully, and although he was jumping clear, he didn't have the momentum.  Doing the only thing that came to mind, Jamie shoulder barged him out of the way.  The body check sent Link sprawling and Jamie took the brunt of the blast.  However, it seemed to pass harmlessly through him, and although he was a little dazed, he was otherwise unscathed.

"Hah!  Is that the best you got?"  Jamie almost laughed at the feeble attack.

"You should not concern yourself with me, but concentrate on yourself."  Said the skull.

"Yeah…turn around."  Jamie couldn't believe it, his own voice had spoken, mingled with the evil whispers and in a low growl.  He thought for a moment he'd been possessed.  It turned out that it was much worse.  He wheeled round and faced the new foe.  It was him…only the hair was silver, the face was ghost pale, the eyes were black as night and his clothes were all black, consisting of tough leather armour with chains adorning the shoulders and thighs.  This wasn't going too well.