Spiritual Curse Chapter 5

PG

All characters belong to Nintendo.

Link was the first to arrive, the power of the Ocarina's song faster than that of the Sages.  He looked to the Spirit Temple, covered in a strange purple glow.  He ran to the steps of the temple, stopping.  The Sages landed behind him, each regaining their normal form.

"My temple!" Nabooru said, running for the door.  She hit the barrier, a flash of lightening enclosing around her, throwing her back.  They could hear the cackle of the witch sisters as Link rushed to the Gerudo's side.

"It seems as though they've placed a powerful spell upon the temple," Rauru said.  "Nothing can enter without a powerful shield."  Link looked up, understanding what he meant.

"We will watch over her, Brother," Darunia said.  "Go save the princess."

"And be careful, Link," Saria added, placing a kiss on his cheek.

"Aren't I always?" he said, the former gleam of mischief returning to his crystal blue eyes.  He reached into his pouch, pulling out a small blue crystal.  Holding it between his palms, he chanted a short phrase.  He placed his hands on the ground as the crystal grew around him into the powerful spell of Nayru's Love.  He stood, looking back through the blue force field before running through the spell of the witches into the Spirit Temple.

The temple was unnervingly quiet.  More so than it had been the first time he came through here.  He walked slowly at first, to the lift that would take him up toward the statue of the Sand Goddess.  He rounded the corners has he had before, finding himself back in the large chamber with the great statue.  The platform that would take him up to the broken-away face still waited for him, just as he had left it.  He stepped on carefully, drawing his sword, ready for anything.  He leapt into the face of the statue, approaching the hidden Chamber of the Goddess.  The door opened for him, slamming shut tightly behind as he stepped through.  He looked around the dark room, only the light of the setting sun filtering in.  The moon would rise soon, and whatever Twinrova had planned, he was ready for.  He scanned the room as his eyes adjusted, looking for any sign of Zelda or the sisters for that matter.  The room was deathly still as he climbed the center platform, just as he had not so long ago.  The surface of the platform was still scorched from the attack of the sisters, covered in a fine layer of dust.  But something was not right.  He could feel that he was not alone.  The silent torches on the walls suddenly burst to life, filling the chamber with harsh firelight.  He turned slowly, finding a figure in black charging him, wielding two large swords.  He barely managed to bring his shield up fast enough to block them, pushing off his attacker.  The attacker back-flipped away, landing squarely on his feet.  He brandished the swords, almost mockingly.  Link looked over the attacker, noticing it was not like any creature he had ever fought before.  It looked too much like a person, but there were no distinguing features to prove whether his first thought was correct or not.  Even the eyes were covered with a thin black mesh, masking his identity.  They ran at each other, Link locking the attacker's two swords with his own.  They pushed off each other, the attacker jumping forward swiftly, raining down blow after blow upon Link.  He twisted the swords around rapidly, spinning in an all too familiar way.  Link was caught off guard, as both swords sliced deep into his right arm.  He cried out in pain as he could hear the cackling of the sisters ring through the chamber.  He looked up as he continued to block the attack to see the Twinrova's spirits flying in circles above them. 

"You mustn't kill him yet, my pet," Koume said.

"You must wait for the moon to rise," Kotake added.  The attacker backed off, breathing heavily. 

"Where's Zelda?" Link demanded, looking to the spirits.

"Now if we were to tell you that," Koume started.

"It would take away from all of the fun," Kotake finished as the sisters began to laugh again.

"The moon will rise any moment," Koume said.

"And with your blood, hero, we will rise again, more powerful than even the mighty Ganondorf!" Link's eyes followed Kotake around in the circle as she said these words, remembering Nabooru's dream.  His eyes drifted back down to the man in black, who stood, swords up and ready, awaiting the command of the witches.  Link stepped forward cautiously; the attacker stood still, unmoving.  He had to be quick if he were to see if his gut feeling was true.  He came within arms' reach of the minion, sword and shield ready.

"You are daring, hero," Koume said.  "But you are too slow."

"The moon rises!" Kotake cried out, her eyes cast upon the blood red moon.  "Finish him!"  Link grabbed the hood masking the attacker before leaping away as the swords came at him, flailing.  Golden locks fell around the face of the attacker as her swords came dangerously close to Link's face.

"Zelda…" he breathed.  She did not seem to recognize him as their eyes locked.  There was a strangeness to her eyes that he could not explain.  He knew that she must have been under a spell of the witches, yet he didn't have time to think about how to break it.  She was attacking fast and furious as the witches laughed louder.  He back-flipped away, trying to think fast while reacting faster.

"Such a dilemma, eh Kotake?" Koume said, laughing.

"Yes, yes, Koume.  Does he kill his love or let his love kill him.  Decisions, decisions."

"No!" Link cried out.  There had to be another way.  He knew he couldn't kill her, and yet if she killed him, Hyrule would fall to the Twinrova and all would be lost.  He had to somehow stop her without causing any fatal damage.  He threw his shield aside, beginning his attack.  He fought hard, blocking every swing of both swords she brought down upon him.  He swung, knocking one of the swords from her hand.  It landed well off the platform.  She continued fighting with the remaining sword, neither giving any ground.  They circled as they fought, Link swinging carefully so as not to deal a mortal wound.  He continued to aim for her sword, hitting just right to send it flying in the other direction, away from the first sword.  She fell back from the blow as Link fell to his knees, holding his sword to her throat.

"It's over," Link said to the witch sisters.  "Release her."

"This is not done yet," Zelda hissed, grabbing his shirt, hoisting him over.  She launched him with her legs, off the side of the platform.  She rolled onto her feet quickly, leaping down.  He had landed on his back, the force of the blow knocking his sword several feet away.  She grabbed it, holding it to his throat before he could scramble to his feet.  "Now, it shall be finished."  She stopped as something flashed in her eyes.  Had she truly been out for blood, she could have easily sliced his throat by now.

"Zelda," he said quietly, "fight it.  Fight their magic."  Her eyes grew wide before slitting again.  Her gripped tightened on the hilt as the sisters cried out from above them.

"Finish him!  Quickly!" They cried in unison.  Link wasted little time, grabbing her shirt, pulling her to him.  He knew she was in there, and he had to try something, anything.  He kissed her, hoping if nothing else, it would catch her off guard long enough to overtake her.  She dropped the sword, collapsing in his grasp.  He let her go as she fell to the ground, grabbing the sword.  "No!!" the Twinrova cried out.

"You fool!" Koume cried out, turning to her sister.  "I told you we should have placed her in something more concealing so he would not discover her!"

"I'm not the fool," Kotake snapped.  "You're the one who thought it would be brilliant to brainwash her.  That was our only chance and you ruined it!"  They continued to bicker until they were nothing more than the silent air circling in the Temple.

Link kept his eyes locked on Zelda as she clambered onto her hands and knees, shaking her head.  "What…happened?"  She looked up to Link as he lowered his sword.  "Link?  What's…going on?"  He sheathed his sword, helping the Princess to her feet.

"I'll tell you on the way home," he said, putting his arm around her, leading her from the Chamber of the Goddess.