Altered States

Altered States

A Legend of Zelda Fanfiction

By OJR

Part 10

The skeleton creature reared up and presented itself. What was first apparent as rotting flesh was more like viscous ooze and it moved around the thing like a perpetual river. It's glowing stare fixed on Link.

"You, prepare yourself to die horribly infidel!" it boomed with mighty force. Link just cracked that half smile back at it.

"Yeah, yeah, I've heard that one before…now show me what you've got!" Link wanted to get the thing mad, mad enough to make a mistake and trip over it's own feet, into a grave preferably. He didn't have to wait long as it shot a long tendril of ooze out at him that wrapped round his midsection, squeezing the wind out of him. He slashed at the gooey appendage and it broke loose. However it continued to constrict. Zelda ran up to him and placed her palm gently on it. It glowed a dull shine before falling off and evaporating onto the floor. The monster chuckled, a sound like bones being fed through a gravel crusher.

"I have only begun!" and with that he shot multiple globules of the vile oil at Zelda. The globs metamorphosed in mid flight to form mouths, which bit deeply into her flesh. Link was about to help when a jet of flame cut him off from her. The monster closed its mouth into another bony grin.

Things weren't going much better for Jamie. He squared off against his 'dark' self and they began trading words.

"You may look like e, but I've got no hesitation in jacking you up man!" Jamie snarled at the cocky figure opposite him, like trash talking at a mirror.

"Oh yes? Well, you could try…I doubt you'd get very far." Dark Jamie cackled at him. "Yes, I think they will be very surprised, your family, when I come home. I think I'll let you live long enough to see me kill them…oh…it will take them a long time to die." And with that he let out a chilling laugh, like hail on concrete. The only response was a low growl.

"You play, you pay, you bastard!" and Jamie leapt at his alter ego, sword blazing fire in the crimson light.

Link dodged bolt after bolt of flame, never being able to close in on his target. Zelda, however, clawed at the leechlike creatures that had sunk their fangs into her arms, legs and chest. She cried in pain as the writhed around, deepening her wounds. Each scream was a dagger into Links heart as he watched his beloved be slowly drained while trying to keep one step ahead of his opponent. Zelda had only one hope left. She closed her eyes and blocked out the pain as best she could. She chanted mentally.

"Quiet the mind, hear the spirit…" she felt like her life was being sucked away and she had little time left to concentrate her magic. Her aura built as she channelled her energy into the leeches. They glowed also, their black bodies beginning to shimmer golden light. Their faces twisted and contorted in pain before they changed. And just before letting go each one had the appearance of a smiling baby on its face as it evaporated into the ether. Zelda stayed in a kneeling position, weakened but not out. She lifted her head and saw Link standing, panting across from the demon. Her hero was looking a tad worse for wear. He took out his bow and arrows and quickly lined up a shot. He concentrated on the arrowhead. It glowed with pure light magic, magic that would destroy any evil in its path. He let the projectile fly towards its target, straight and true. The demon caught it effortlessly, millimetres from its eye. With a squeeze the bolt was snapped and the light faded, as did Link's hope of taking it out.

Jamie's initial attack had been easily parried and now it took all of his enhanced strength and speed to keep up with his dark self. Their blades clashed together in an ever-increasing crescendo until they were almost a blur. Dark Jamie's ferocity was fearsome but the real Jamie had to keep it up to survive this. Jamie was perspiring heavily, using the tiny part of his mind that wasn't on autopilot, guiding his blade, to pray the sweat didn't get into his eyes and blind him. Dark Jamie, however showed no signs of fatigue and kept the evil smirk plastered on his face. He wasn't even concentrating. The real Jamie summoned his last reserves of strength to issue forth a final burst, viciously deflecting a thrust, leaving his opponent slightly off balance. He followed through with a pirouette on the spot, turning his blade in his hands and using all the force to drive it deep into Dark Jamie's heart. For a frozen second they were mere inches apart, Jamie still gripping the sword embedded in his foe. When time resumed, Dark Jamie spoke.

"So…you got me…" he was still smiling. Jamie cracked a smile of his own.

"Heh, not so tough…" and that was the end of the gloat as Dark Jamie brought his palm back and went for Jamie's nose, trying to smash it into his skull. Jamie didn't have time to dodge sufficiently and the blow caught him just below the eye. The force snapped his head back and he went skidding across the floor, face already bruising and swelling from the hit. He kicked himself up to his feet on reflex, but was dismayed to see Dark Jamie charging at him. Another split-second dodge got him out of harms way, but the lethal slash cut deeply into the cheek that hadn't been bruised. He was mentally patting himself on the back when scything, sharp agony lanced at his brain from his right side. Dark Jamie had plunged his sword backward, aiming for Jamie's lower back, but the dodge momentum had meant it struck to the right, impaling Jamie through the far right of his abdomen. He looked down just in time to see the point of the blade retract into the exit wound and blood began to pour out. Jamie collapsed to his knees and turned to face his opponent again, breathing heavily and clutching his side.

Link reeled back, stunned by the events that were occurring. He had no choice but to retreat, hopefully keeping out of hams way long enough to regroup. If only he could hit the demon with light magic. That would weaken him enough to take him out. The demon itself seemed to be contemplating the next move. Link stalked around before it, watching it coagulate there, anticipating what it might do. Zelda, on the other hand, had taken the opportunity in the lull to search the kit bag for anything that might help. All she found were more reasons to worry. They only had one more Red potion and no more arrows or Deku nuts. She was about to give up hope when she saw something shine at the bottom, something metallic wrapped in cloth. She removed the cloth and, for the fist time today, she laughed.

"LINK! CATCH!" She threw the object hard, and Link snatched it out of the air. HE knew instantly what to do. The MAC-10 he was holding began to glow with a golden aura. He levelled it at the demon and gave the trigger a tentative squeeze. A single, light charged bullet streaked from the weapon. Leaving a golden tracer in its wake, it slammed into the demon with a wet thudding sound. The demon looked to his wound, which had a soft beam of light protruding from it, and began to heal it. It looked up, pleased that the projectiles effect was short lived. Link, however, did not flinch. Instead, one corner of his mouth curved upward as he gripped the gun and squeezed the trigger. Seemingly in slow motion, golden trails leapt from the muzzle, peppering the evil thing with holes that dribbled light like blood. As soon as the clip was spent, Link drew his sword and charged at the weakened demon.

Jamie pulled a small vial from his belt, which contained enough Red potion to cure his wound enough to continue, but he'd need medical help or a larger dose if he were to survive for certain. He flicked the cork out with his thumb, but never even got to raise it to his lips as Dark Jamie threw a small pebble from the floor at the glass tube, smashing it and splattering its contents. The mockery of a doppelganger held up a finger in a scornful way.

"Tch tch, you should know better than to cheat. The good guys aren't supposed to cheat. But to show you I'm a good sport…I'll give you one free shot." Dark Jamie cackled a little. Jamie knew how threatening he must have looked, on one knee, almost blind in his left eye, blood seeping from his wounds, shaking and breathing heavily. He mustered his strength and hoisted himself onto shaky knees, getting into a combat stance, wincing with pain. If he were going to die, at least it would be on his feet. There was one last shot he could try, a desperate attempt in a desperate situation. If it failed, he was done for. He controlled his breathing a little and began to focus on his blade. The warmth was building in his hands as the sword began to glow a dull blue. Dark Jamie smirked, as if it was pointless to try it.

"It would take more magic power than you have to even touch me." Jamie blocked this from his mind and focused even harder, concentrating his anger, hate and frustration into the attack power he was building. The sword began to change from the dull blue, to a more vibrant purple and finally into a brilliant red.

"Go on then…take your best fucking shot!" Dark Jamie shouted out, crossing his arms impatiently. However, Jamie was not done yet. His magic spent he still channelled energy into the blade. It was draining him and he felt his body begin to weaken, but he growled though it. The blade began to glow orange, then through to a yellow. Wind whipped around Jamie as the power surged around, sparks jumping from the blade to his arms and the floor. The sword pulsed, the light a brilliant golden white, almost blinding to behold, fingers of lightning striking the floor and coursing over Jamie's body. Mustering the last of his energy he screamed a battle cry at the top of his lungs and brought the sword down in a vicious downward swing. The huge energy pulse shot toward Dark Jamie at frightening speed, like a curved blade of light. The blast hit the evil clone dead centre and exploded, all sound and light and fury. The pulse sheared on, slamming into a tree directly behind the target, smashing it in half lengthways and sending smouldering bits of wood flying backward from the impact. The wind from the backlash knocked Jamie to his back and he struggled to one knee again, almost devoid of strength, but grimly hanging on to consciousness, admiring his handy-work. The smoke billowed from where Dark Jamie had stood. The smoke shifted about, tossed by the wind, finally beginning to settle. But as it settled a figure could be clearly seen. Once again the laughter filtered through the thick air.

Link leapt toward the demon at full speed, aiming the point of his sword directly at the creature's head. The point sailed in as the monster was distracted, but as the blade struck the bony skull it just stopped, as if it had been plunged into clay. The red eyes turned up slowly.

"Valliant…but ultimately futile." The beast could only manage a weak energy pulse but it was enough to send Link sprawling. Link growled as he hauled himself to his feet. The holes began to close, but his opponent's wounds looked as if they were seriously weakening him. However, it would only be a matter of time until he was back to strength, and he was fresh out of machine guns. Link readied himself for another charge but halted as a ball of light shot out from the undergrowth. Navi began rapidly buzzing round the creature's head. It was obviously painful as he winced and swatted at the fairy, trying to extinguish her magical aura. Link was just about to charge again when Navi was caught. She was held up by her legs, close to his face.

"Mmm, lovely wings…so easily detached." The gravely cackle made Link shiver

"Navi! No!" his companion and aide was millimetres from being torn apart when the demon reared his head back and roared in agony. Zelda was advancing behind him, light streaming from her palms as she beat the weakened foe back. She stopped the beams and ran toward it, crying our in rage and hate with both of her short swords drawn. She leapt, charging the blades with light energy before stabbing them into the creature's shoulders. It wailed, thrashing around to get the swords out of its flesh. Using this surprise attack, Link charged and the demon turned just in time to catch the Master Sword between the eyes. As the blade bit deep into the putrid flesh time again stood still for a second. In this moment within a moment, the demon realised he was defeated. He was adamant that Link wouldn't win either and summoned the last of his strength for a final attack. As his foe combusted, Link was hurled through the air at a terrifying speed and smashed into a tree about 10 metres up the trunk. He fell from this great height like a rag doll, landing heavily on his front. Zelda ran to him. Gingerly turning him over, he was still conscious but his injuries were extensive. Her eyes were stung by the pricks of tears as she talked, voice cracking.

"L-Link? Speak to me, oh please say something." Links reply was feeble, with confusion and fear etched in his words.

"Zelda…I can't see…and I can't feel my legs…" His spine had been badly damaged and his eyes were reddened with popped blood vessels from the mighty blast. She reached into her pack and brought out their remaining vial of Red potion. She tipped it to his lips and prayed. A few seconds passed and Link began to groan and write. He batted his eyes and turned to her.

"By the Goddesses, you're beautiful…" Her tear streaked face lit up.

"Help me to my feet princess, we've got to find Jamie." Zelda threw his arm over her shoulder and they stepped back into the field. They heard a loud explosion from behind some trees and a giant flash of light, and began to run toward the source.

Jamie fell onto his back and looked up in fear as his twin stood over him.

"That hurt, you little shit…now I'll show you what pain is!" He stamped down on Jamie's shin and a sickening crunch could be heard from a good distance. Jamie screamed at the top of his lungs, pain and fatigue gnawing at his brain. Next, Dark Jamie swung a kick into his ribs. The bones cracked under the blow and Jamie was flipped in the air, his strength and resistance to injury gone, all his power used in his last, desperate attack. Dark Jamie wasn't done yet though, bringing his foot down on Jamie's arm, another crunch. All the winded Jamie could do was hack out a silent scream and pray for a miracle. Dark Jamie unsheathed his sword.

"Let's see…I smashed you in the face, ran you through, I seem to have broken a rib or two, plus your arm and leg…it must hurt a lot…" He sneered. "So…I'll consider this a mercy killing." Jamie's eyes went wide as dinner plates as Dark Jamie lifted the sword above his head. Then deliverance finally decided to show up. Without his creator's power backing him up, Dark Jamie's invulnerability gave up and sputtered out. Just as he was about to deliver the deathblow, he dropped the sword and clutched his head in agony. A golden line of light erupted along his head and down his body. The line grew larger and the light spread, engulfing the abomination, whose screams faded as he evaporated into non-existence. Just then Link and Zelda ran to his side.

"Jamie…you look awful…Zelda, do we have another Red potion?" Link looked to her hopefully, but the tears in her eyes told him the story. Jamie twisted his battered face into a smile.

"Call for help…then get the fuck out of here…the portal will shut any minute…" he said weakly. Zelda began to cry out for help, and sure enough the paramedics, police and Jamie's family were soon spilling onto the field. He looked at them sternly.

"I'll be fine…now go!" he used his good hand to push them away. They did as they were told, dashing into the portal just as it was about to close, Link playing the Prelude of Light as he ran. And just as suddenly as they had come, Link, Zelda and Navi disappeared. Jamie's mum scooped his head into her arms and he was suddenly surrounded by his family. He weakly looked up at her.

"It's…not as bad as it looks…" He grinned and then let out a cough that brought fresh blood to his mouth. She was already crying. He lifted his good hand to wipe the tears away.

"Oh my baby…what did they do to you?" her voice shook.

"Shh…don't worry…I'll always be with you all…in here…" he touched her forehead "and here…" he touched her chest, above her heart. And with that, he smiled, closed his eyes and went limp.

Authors Note: Well, next time it's the final chapter. You'll see which ending I write first, but I will write both endings. R+R please!