Ah... I think this is one of my better chapters, there is fighting! Yes!
Some, not a lot, but fighting nonetheless. *plays Super Smash Brothers
Melee* Not like this kind of fighting, but oh well. ^____^
Note: The first set of brackets represents something Link is remembering, and the second is.... well, you'll understand when you get there.
Chapter Nine
King Viru of the Tophetians stood on the highest balcony of Castle Hellis, situated in the center of the Miasma River. His eyes, so dark they were nearly black, scanned the horizon for any signs of enemy ships.
"Milord, I have some... bad news for you," a young squire named Intol announced rather nervously as he bowed deeply. "There is news of a Selintan war ship heading back to port in Selinta... carrying Hylian soldiers."
"What?" The Tophetian King turned to face the squire. "Hylian soldiers?"
"Yes, Milord... and the Hero of Time is... well... said to be on one of them. Our spies picked up this information directly from Ontharn..." With three fluid steps Viru was in front of Intol. He reached for the squire's neck, seized it, and lifted him up. His dark eyes glinted with rage as he growled into the young Tophetian's face,
"I want Link dead. Dead, do you understand me? I don't care if you have to hire an assassin, or the God of Death himself, to destroy Link, but see to it that he is out of the picture. I don't need that meddlesome teenager to ruin all my glory." 'Or perhaps... through other matters,' thought the King, dropping the squire and turning away, a malicious smile forming on his face.
["If you can defeat the sea monster and return to us, Link, then we are forever in your debt. This is your ultimatum."
"And if I don't?"
"...Then I am afraid that there is no other alternative. If you do not defeat this monster, it is highly probably that you will be killed or imprisoned eternally. I ask of you, please destroy this evil."]
Link fashioned himself with the iron boots, thanking the goddesses every few seconds that he had remembered to put on his pouch before leaving his cabin. What had possessed him to do that, he didn't know, but he was simply grateful to have done so.
The tunic he received from King Zora would come in quite handy, Link thought as he donned it and tightened his belt securely. Prince Kellen entered the room, hands folded in the large sleeves. Oddly enough, the Hero of Time was reminded of a much younger (and far more comely) Rauru.
"Are you ready, Hero of Time?" asked the Prince of the Aquarians, his oddly colored eyes regarding Link with hope.
"Yes."
It was a mad flight through the deep blue depths, and Link was sorely disappointed when it ended. An exhilarating ride on the bony back of a seahorse was something he'd never forget.
"There is Cyberian Citadel," Prince Kellen pointed with one hand. Link noticed an odd look had come over the prince's face; fear. Not even during his speeches had such a look come over his face. The nineteen-year-old felt uncomfortable.
"That is where I last saw the creature. For all the gods and goddesses of the water, I would never like to encounter it again!" Prince Venoli shuddered, turning away as though shamed. "I am heading back to Aquaria, brother. I cannot stand the sight of this destruction." He gigged his seahorse and they flew off into the dark water. Prince Kellen turned his attention to Link.
"I know talking would be difficult for you underwater, even with the aid of your special tunic, so I shall tell you everything I know about this. I remember the legends of this monster, and they say its weak spot lies in its mouth. That is all I really know." The prince shook his head and frowned. "I apologize that I cannot aid you, Link, but I have a kingdom to look over—"
"I understand, just go," Link replied carefully, not really paying attention. He gigged his seahorse and began to ride closer to the ruined city. Prince Kellen stared after him. The Hero of Time had had an odd look on his face, a look of utter repose and fearlessness.
"Truly, a brave soul," murmured Kellen as he turned and burst off after his brother.
Link gigged his seahorse and they leapt forward, gliding through the water slowly. His bright eyes searched anxiously for any sign of life, the hand holding the gently pulsing lantern thrust before him as they swam closer to the ruined city.
'I can't imagine where it'd be hiding, if it was as big as they say it is,' mused the Hero of Time as they weaved through the fallen monoliths and broken bits of building.
Behind him, a twin pair of crimson eyes opened and followed his movements.
Link hopped off his seahorse. His iron boots made a muted thump as he landed gently on the ground. There would be no hope of using his bow; the wood of the arrows was waterlogged, and he would have to buy entirely ones. His sword, perhaps? The Master Sword certainly would not rust, he thought as he drew it.
'No shield; it will hinder my movement—'
Without warning there was a muted roar behind him, and before Link could whirl around, something latched around his waist and lifted him up fiercely. Yelling in surprise, the Hero of Time struggled valiantly to free his pinned arms, but to no avail. He found himself looking directly in the mad, staring eye of the ugliest creature he had ever encountered, and that was saying quite a lot.
Mucus-like algae hung off the craggy cliffs of its eyebrows and wavered in the water like little fins. Jagged, blackened teeth and several remaining stumps thereof posed threats of impalement as the creature leer hungrily at him. Dark, knowing eyes bored into him piercingly.
With a mute, thunderous cry the monster lunged towards him, snapping its jaws with frightening force. Link hopped back and was bowled over by his seahorse, which was speeding off back to Aquaria. Mentally cursing himself for not tethering the damn animal (How would he get back now?), the Hero of Time scrambled to his feet and managed a sort of hopping skip away from the creature, which was rousing itself out of its spot.
The blonde teenager jumped and forced onto climb a short, rocky cliff. He turned around and wielded the Master Sword. Seeing the creature smash its way out of its burrowed resting place, the Hero of Time realized that although the Master Sword had mythical, magical powers, it would not have enough brute strength to defeat the creature. Link put it away and concentrated on his Biggoron's Sword in his mind, then pulled the sword out of the sheath strapped to his back.
'I love enchanted sheaths,' he thought distractedly, hopping back as the creature roared again and flew through the water at him. He rolled and dove off the cliff, narrowly escaping having his head bitten off. He thrust upward with the giant sword and relished the scream of agony that the monster peeled forward. With all his might Link tugged it out and darted under the craggy cliff just as the monster's tail slammed into it above his head. Rocks and plants showered down on him, but for the most part, he was protected. Dark blood began billowing in the water, clouding his view.
'Dammit,' he thought, trying in vain to clear the water with the tip of his sword. He felt the monster's screams vibrate on the ground beneath him. It lunged at him again, eyes maddened and red, mouth open and teeth ready. Link dodged out of the way at the last moment, but not before he felt one of the blackened stumps grate his side. Pain flared in a screeching rush and the Hero of Time stifled a gasp. His own blood began to float on the water. Several dark shapes were in the distance, and growing larger. 'Oh no... sharks...' His mind moaned in horror but some deep warrior instinct in Link forced him to concentrate on the problem at hand, before he was nearly decapitated again.
The monster was now in obvious pain, blood pouring out faster. It seemed as though the Biggoron's Sword had punctured some vital organ, perhaps the stomach or liver, and now the creature was slowly dying. But no matter; it was still extremely dangerous. Link did an awkward roll and his side throbbed in protest. He felt the monster whoosh by overhead, and thrust up again, into the monster's jaw.
With a maddening, almost deafening screech (even underwater) its whole body convulsed wildly, and the sword's hilt was wrenched out of his grasp. Link uttered a shout as the creature's tail smacked him and he went flying underneath the rocky face. He knew no more as the sharks arrived; they began to feast madly upon the flesh of the monster that had so terrorized the Aquarians.
["...He's extremely lucky to be alive... This poison, I've not seen anything like it. So terrible it is that he would fall into the Deep Sleep, but hopefully, this draught will at least restore his health, if not his consciousness."
"What of the state he was found in?"
"When our forces arrived, the monster lay dead and the sharks feasted upon its carcass. His sword was retrieved as well; it was lodged in the monster's throat, pointed away from its mouth opening. Such a battle it could have been, but now... Now the battle is for his life against whatever poisons may have been in its teeth. I fear the worst. He may never wake."
"He must. I don't care what herbs or potions you have to acquire, he must be saved. Do you understand, Preya?"
"Yes, of course, Sire, but I don't know of anything that would cure such a terrible ailment."
"Then /find/ one that will, or invent one. Look in the Ancient Myth section of our library. There has to be something. His gallant deed shall not be rewarded with endless sleep! It is not fitting for a warrior of his strength and courage."]
Note: The first set of brackets represents something Link is remembering, and the second is.... well, you'll understand when you get there.
Chapter Nine
King Viru of the Tophetians stood on the highest balcony of Castle Hellis, situated in the center of the Miasma River. His eyes, so dark they were nearly black, scanned the horizon for any signs of enemy ships.
"Milord, I have some... bad news for you," a young squire named Intol announced rather nervously as he bowed deeply. "There is news of a Selintan war ship heading back to port in Selinta... carrying Hylian soldiers."
"What?" The Tophetian King turned to face the squire. "Hylian soldiers?"
"Yes, Milord... and the Hero of Time is... well... said to be on one of them. Our spies picked up this information directly from Ontharn..." With three fluid steps Viru was in front of Intol. He reached for the squire's neck, seized it, and lifted him up. His dark eyes glinted with rage as he growled into the young Tophetian's face,
"I want Link dead. Dead, do you understand me? I don't care if you have to hire an assassin, or the God of Death himself, to destroy Link, but see to it that he is out of the picture. I don't need that meddlesome teenager to ruin all my glory." 'Or perhaps... through other matters,' thought the King, dropping the squire and turning away, a malicious smile forming on his face.
["If you can defeat the sea monster and return to us, Link, then we are forever in your debt. This is your ultimatum."
"And if I don't?"
"...Then I am afraid that there is no other alternative. If you do not defeat this monster, it is highly probably that you will be killed or imprisoned eternally. I ask of you, please destroy this evil."]
Link fashioned himself with the iron boots, thanking the goddesses every few seconds that he had remembered to put on his pouch before leaving his cabin. What had possessed him to do that, he didn't know, but he was simply grateful to have done so.
The tunic he received from King Zora would come in quite handy, Link thought as he donned it and tightened his belt securely. Prince Kellen entered the room, hands folded in the large sleeves. Oddly enough, the Hero of Time was reminded of a much younger (and far more comely) Rauru.
"Are you ready, Hero of Time?" asked the Prince of the Aquarians, his oddly colored eyes regarding Link with hope.
"Yes."
It was a mad flight through the deep blue depths, and Link was sorely disappointed when it ended. An exhilarating ride on the bony back of a seahorse was something he'd never forget.
"There is Cyberian Citadel," Prince Kellen pointed with one hand. Link noticed an odd look had come over the prince's face; fear. Not even during his speeches had such a look come over his face. The nineteen-year-old felt uncomfortable.
"That is where I last saw the creature. For all the gods and goddesses of the water, I would never like to encounter it again!" Prince Venoli shuddered, turning away as though shamed. "I am heading back to Aquaria, brother. I cannot stand the sight of this destruction." He gigged his seahorse and they flew off into the dark water. Prince Kellen turned his attention to Link.
"I know talking would be difficult for you underwater, even with the aid of your special tunic, so I shall tell you everything I know about this. I remember the legends of this monster, and they say its weak spot lies in its mouth. That is all I really know." The prince shook his head and frowned. "I apologize that I cannot aid you, Link, but I have a kingdom to look over—"
"I understand, just go," Link replied carefully, not really paying attention. He gigged his seahorse and began to ride closer to the ruined city. Prince Kellen stared after him. The Hero of Time had had an odd look on his face, a look of utter repose and fearlessness.
"Truly, a brave soul," murmured Kellen as he turned and burst off after his brother.
Link gigged his seahorse and they leapt forward, gliding through the water slowly. His bright eyes searched anxiously for any sign of life, the hand holding the gently pulsing lantern thrust before him as they swam closer to the ruined city.
'I can't imagine where it'd be hiding, if it was as big as they say it is,' mused the Hero of Time as they weaved through the fallen monoliths and broken bits of building.
Behind him, a twin pair of crimson eyes opened and followed his movements.
Link hopped off his seahorse. His iron boots made a muted thump as he landed gently on the ground. There would be no hope of using his bow; the wood of the arrows was waterlogged, and he would have to buy entirely ones. His sword, perhaps? The Master Sword certainly would not rust, he thought as he drew it.
'No shield; it will hinder my movement—'
Without warning there was a muted roar behind him, and before Link could whirl around, something latched around his waist and lifted him up fiercely. Yelling in surprise, the Hero of Time struggled valiantly to free his pinned arms, but to no avail. He found himself looking directly in the mad, staring eye of the ugliest creature he had ever encountered, and that was saying quite a lot.
Mucus-like algae hung off the craggy cliffs of its eyebrows and wavered in the water like little fins. Jagged, blackened teeth and several remaining stumps thereof posed threats of impalement as the creature leer hungrily at him. Dark, knowing eyes bored into him piercingly.
With a mute, thunderous cry the monster lunged towards him, snapping its jaws with frightening force. Link hopped back and was bowled over by his seahorse, which was speeding off back to Aquaria. Mentally cursing himself for not tethering the damn animal (How would he get back now?), the Hero of Time scrambled to his feet and managed a sort of hopping skip away from the creature, which was rousing itself out of its spot.
The blonde teenager jumped and forced onto climb a short, rocky cliff. He turned around and wielded the Master Sword. Seeing the creature smash its way out of its burrowed resting place, the Hero of Time realized that although the Master Sword had mythical, magical powers, it would not have enough brute strength to defeat the creature. Link put it away and concentrated on his Biggoron's Sword in his mind, then pulled the sword out of the sheath strapped to his back.
'I love enchanted sheaths,' he thought distractedly, hopping back as the creature roared again and flew through the water at him. He rolled and dove off the cliff, narrowly escaping having his head bitten off. He thrust upward with the giant sword and relished the scream of agony that the monster peeled forward. With all his might Link tugged it out and darted under the craggy cliff just as the monster's tail slammed into it above his head. Rocks and plants showered down on him, but for the most part, he was protected. Dark blood began billowing in the water, clouding his view.
'Dammit,' he thought, trying in vain to clear the water with the tip of his sword. He felt the monster's screams vibrate on the ground beneath him. It lunged at him again, eyes maddened and red, mouth open and teeth ready. Link dodged out of the way at the last moment, but not before he felt one of the blackened stumps grate his side. Pain flared in a screeching rush and the Hero of Time stifled a gasp. His own blood began to float on the water. Several dark shapes were in the distance, and growing larger. 'Oh no... sharks...' His mind moaned in horror but some deep warrior instinct in Link forced him to concentrate on the problem at hand, before he was nearly decapitated again.
The monster was now in obvious pain, blood pouring out faster. It seemed as though the Biggoron's Sword had punctured some vital organ, perhaps the stomach or liver, and now the creature was slowly dying. But no matter; it was still extremely dangerous. Link did an awkward roll and his side throbbed in protest. He felt the monster whoosh by overhead, and thrust up again, into the monster's jaw.
With a maddening, almost deafening screech (even underwater) its whole body convulsed wildly, and the sword's hilt was wrenched out of his grasp. Link uttered a shout as the creature's tail smacked him and he went flying underneath the rocky face. He knew no more as the sharks arrived; they began to feast madly upon the flesh of the monster that had so terrorized the Aquarians.
["...He's extremely lucky to be alive... This poison, I've not seen anything like it. So terrible it is that he would fall into the Deep Sleep, but hopefully, this draught will at least restore his health, if not his consciousness."
"What of the state he was found in?"
"When our forces arrived, the monster lay dead and the sharks feasted upon its carcass. His sword was retrieved as well; it was lodged in the monster's throat, pointed away from its mouth opening. Such a battle it could have been, but now... Now the battle is for his life against whatever poisons may have been in its teeth. I fear the worst. He may never wake."
"He must. I don't care what herbs or potions you have to acquire, he must be saved. Do you understand, Preya?"
"Yes, of course, Sire, but I don't know of anything that would cure such a terrible ailment."
"Then /find/ one that will, or invent one. Look in the Ancient Myth section of our library. There has to be something. His gallant deed shall not be rewarded with endless sleep! It is not fitting for a warrior of his strength and courage."]