Chapter Seven: The Fight To The End
Sailor Mercury scanned the leaf her brow knit in confusion. "According to my computer this leaf should not be moving."
Sailor Venus frowned as she noticed the octorocks they were by-passing. "We have to find Usagi. Without her brooch she can't defend herself! How is she supposed to survive around here?" she demanded hysteria lining her voice.
"We'll find her, Venus," assured Sailor Mars.
"This leaf only goes as far as an old wooden bridge. When we get there we will have to jump," instructed Sailor Jupiter
Sailor Jupiter pointed to the bridge, "Time to get off," she announced as she leapt from the leaf. The others followed suit. Sailor Jupiter crossed her arms and called upon her lightning as she recognized an octorck. "Supreme Thunder !" she screamed. She smirked as the enemy was easily defeated. The group walked over the wooden bridge, "Which way, Mercury?" questioned Sailor Jupiter.
Sailor Mercury glanced at her computer for a moment before answering, "We take the next path to the right." The others nodded and started up the hilly path.
**
Usagi slowly walked to the icy platform and gazed at the frozen path,. "I have to get across." She sighed and took a deep breath. "Here I go," she whispered as she jumped to the first block of ice.
Usagi quickly made her way across the next two pieces of ice and held back the fear that was choking her throat. "Link's not here to save me this time," she mused aloud. Usagi watched how the ice revolved for a few minutes before she made her jump.
Usagi gasped as she landed in the middle of the ice. She whimpered as the ice continued to revolve around in a circle. She fought down sudden nasuea as she saw the lip of the shoreline she needed to jump to. She gulped nervously and jumped. She landed hard on the edge of the shore and felt her breath leave her with a whoosh.
As she gasped for air she dimly realized she was starting to slide into the icy water. She whimpered as her fingers dug for purchase in the sandy ground. Usagi curled her fingers into claws and gritting her teeth pulled herself onto the shore. She allowed herself a few moments to regain her breath before she turned to face the cave Link had entered.
**
Sailor Mars frowned as she realized the path they had been following had come to an end. Sailor Mercury scanned a massive waterfall,. "According to my computer this waterfall can be stopped with the correct sequence of musical notes." She tapped a command into her computer and various musical notes sounded. "This may take a while," she informed her small group as she started to play song after song.
**
Usagi shivered violently before entering the cave. Her eyes roamed the walls until she noticed stalactites of ice on the ceiling. Usagi stifled a scream and offered a silent prayer of thanks for her Kokiri boots.
Usagi slowly pressed herself against the wall and tiptoed through the cave. Her eyes narrowed in anger and she crouched down to the ground allowing her heavy Hyrulian shield to cover her. 'If I just slink down these walls I'll never get to Link's side. I have to do something now,' she thought in a panic.
She let out a scream of fury and winced as the might ice spears started to crash down to the floor of the cave. She yelped as one of the ice blades sliced her bent leg in it's plunge to the ground. Hot tears of pain welled in her eyes and slid down her cheeks. She sniffled and glanced up at the ceiling. Assured that all of the stalactites had fallen she struggled to her feet. A small pool of crimson stained the ice and Usagi grimaced in pain. "Link," she whispered as she made her way through the cave's hallway.
**
Sailor Jupiter gasped as the waterfall suddenly stopped and a secret passageway was revealed. Sailor Venus gracefully leapt into the small corridor and ran heedless of her friend's cries to come back. Sailor Jupiter started to run after her but was halted by Sailor Mars's hand on her shoulder, "Let her go. She will find Usagi for us, and perhaps even convince her to return." Sailor Jupiter frowned but agreed.
**
Usagi glanced down at her leg and her eyes widened in shock as she realized that her leg was bleeding heavily. She sank to her feet and holding the cloth of her green tunic steady with her teeth she began to tear the fabric. She tore a nice sized strip from the green cloth and she wrapped it around her bleeding leg. 'I hope it is tight enough to stop the bleeding,' she pondered to herself. She frowned as she noticed the trail of crimson that led from the opening of the cave to where she stood. 'I've certainly made it easy for anyone that wanted to trail me,' she thought with a frown on her lips.. She stood to her full height and ran to through the cave.
Usagi skidded to a stop as she noticed what appeared to be a piece of ice in the shape of a person. Her breath caught in her throat and she began to run to the other side of the cave. The sudden feeling of a thousand needles of ice stabbing across her body made Usagi scream in agony. Usagi struggled and brought out her small wooden boomerang that Link had given her. She threw the weapon at the ice creature and hoped that it would be enough to destroy the monstrosity.
As soon as the boomerang hit Usagi realized the creature's attack had stopped and that she was free. She leapt into the air and caught her boomerang. As she landed she cried out in pain as her leg threatened to give out from underneath her. She grit her teeth in determination and howling with fury threw her boomerang at another one of the ice creatures. Usagi nodded as her boomerang finished off the monster and returned to her hand. She smiled slightly and ran to the next room of the cave. Only a slight grimace on her face showed that she was in pain from her leg.
**
Sailor Venus gasped as she realized the whole area had a thick layer of ice on it. "Usagi, where are you?" she whispered as she thought of her friend. She noticed a path and ran up it. Her eyes widened in disbelief as the path ended in a throne room. She stared at the fish-like creature encased inside of a red covering. She shook her head in disbelief and climbed some stairs to her right. She swerved around the red substance and raced down the hall.
**
Sailor Mercury finally finished her scan of the secret passage. The three senshi jumped into the passage and were startled as they heard the giant waterfall roar back to life. Sailor Mars led the group into an icy chamber.
Sailor Mercury scanned the ice and a small frown tugged at her lips. "There are some sort of creatures within this ice. I have never seen anything like them before."
Sailor Jupiter turned to her in confusion. "You mean there are some sort of creatures under this ice?"
Sailor Mercury nodded, "Yes, but the strange thing is that what ever these creatures are have survived and are still alive."
Sailor Mars frowned and crouched down touching the ice. "I sense intelligent minds underneath here," She frowned in concentration. "They were placed under a spell when someone named Gannondorf came here." She blinked as she realized that Sailor Jupiter was trying to break through the ice, "We can't help them now but when we find Usagi we'll come back and free them." The others nodded reluctantly and turned their eyes away from the icy domain.
**
Usagi slowed to a walk as she entered a gigantic room. Her eyes widened in disbelief as she saw two giant blades of ice attached to the center of the room's floor. She whimpered as she saw the ice blades revolve in a complete circle.
She waited until one of the giant blades of ice passed by her before she ran after it. Her eyes strayed around the room until they rested on a hallway. She rolled underneath the deadly blades and felt the air grow cold above her. She ran into the hallway and passed two blocks of red ice that looked like the same ice that had imprisoned King Zora. She ran into another room and smiled as she saw Link. Before she could call out to him he exited through a door. Her eyes filled with confusion. "What is a door doing here?" she wondered aloud.
**
Sailor Venus leapt across the floating ice pieces with the grace and speed of a gazelle. She entered the cave and frowned at the melting puddles of ice on the floor. Her eyes widened in horror as she noticed the sticky red substance on the ground.
She knelt down and with one gloved hand touched the red liquid. "Oh, no," She whispered as she realized she found someone's blood. She curled up into a ball her eyes locked on the crimson blood. "Please don't be Usagi's," She whispered over and over again in a soft pleading mantra..
**
Sailor Jupiter followed Sailor Mercury and Sailor Mars up a thin winding path. When the two got to the throne room Sailor Mars frowned as she stared at the odd creature. "I sense he's alive and that he must be the ruler those minds under the ice told me to protect," She told her friends. She frowned again and raced up the stairs to her right. She lay her hand on the red ice and closed her eyes. "This red ice was placed on him as punishment for helping the Hero of Time," She sighed and took her hand away from the frozen ruler. "The only way to rescue him is by finding something called blue fire," The other sailors glanced at each other nervously. "We have to find Usagi. We'll help this guy later." The trio walked around the king and made their way through the adjoining corridor.
**
Usagi slowly opened the door and entered another room. she jerked in shock as the door slammed behind her and a set of steel bars dropped down from the ceiling barring her escape. A vicious growling made her slowly turn around and she screamed as a giant white wolf standing on its hind legs attacked her.
Usagi threw her boomerang at the wolf and let out a cry of despair as the weapon bounced off the beast's nose. The wolf howl growled and leapt for her throat. Link slammed the blunt end of his sword into the wolf and it howled with anger. Link held up his shield and waited for the enraged wolf to attack. His eyes slid to Usagi's figure and filled with concern when he saw her tunic ripped into strips and that her leg had a bloody bandage on it. Seeing a look of horror cover her features he turned around as the wolf slammed its weight into him. "Are you alright, Usagi?" He asked worry deeply evident in his voice. Usagi nodded.
"Watch out!" She cried as the wolf's mouth descended on Link's leg. Link brought his shield down hard upon the wolf's head and the beast roared with outrage. The wolf circled Link as the young hero protected the injured Usagi. Usagi slowly undid her bloody bandage and threw the soiled tunic at the wolf. The wolf chomped down on the green cloth and viciously shook its head back and forth completely destroying the cloth.
**
Sailor Jupiter waited for her friends to catch up. "The only place she could have gone is across the ice and into the cave over there."
Sailor Mars snorted, "Odango atama couldn't have made it across the ice. She couldn't cross that ice if her life depended on it!"
Sailor Jupiter frowned. "It's the only way she could have gone," She said as she easily made her way across the ice.
Sailor Mercury cupped her hands as she gathered her power. "Shabon Spray Freezing!" she screamed. The blue-haired heroine smiled as Zora's fountain completely froze over. She made her way across the slippery ice followed by a scowling Sailor Mars. The two joined Sailor Jupiter and the trio entered the cave.
**
Usagi screamed as the wolf's mouth was within inches of Link's arm. With a wild cry of desperation she threw herself at the wolf's back. The wolf turned and its jaws clamped shut on Usagi's tunic its hot breath warming her skin underneath. Her eyes widened with horror as the wolf let go of her and tried to get a better grip on her throat. Link acted quickly and thrust his sword under the wolf's ribs towards its heart. The beast let out an unearthly howl and faded away.
Link strode towards the shaking Usagi when a giant wooden chest appeared in the center of the room. He assured himself that Usagi was okay before he walked to the chest. He lifted the metal latches then raised the lid of the chest. He bent down and pulled the Iron boots out of their hiding place. He turned to show Usagi his find when Sheik appeared.
"I have rescued the Zora Princess from under the ice, but she has left for the Water Temple..." Sheik paused as he realized Link was not alone. "Who is she?" He demanded. Usagi stared at the person in fear.
"She's my friend," Link replied.
Sheik's gaze dropped to Usagi's necklace. "You gave her that?" he questioned.
Link nodded confusion in his eyes. 'Sheik usually doesn't talk this much,' thought Link in confusion.
"Hero of Time, you can not have a child like her get in the way of your mission," Sheik reprimanded.
Link frowned and stepped in front of Usagi, "She goes where I go, Sheik."
Sheik frowned but brought out his harp. "This is the Serenade of Water it will teleport you to the Water Temple," He instructed as he gently strummed the strings of the harp. As the vibrations from the song ended Link brought out his ocarina and duplicated the notes. Sheik nodded and threw a Deku Nut on the ground and smoke billowed from the spot he had occupied. When the smoke dissipated Sheik had vanished.
**
Sailor Mercury gasped as she found Sailor Venus curled up in a corner her eyes wide with horror. "Venus?" Sailor Jupiter questioned. The blonde raised her head and tore her gaze away from the redness of the blood.
Sailor Mercury scanned the blood and her mouth opened in shock. The palm-sized computer fell from her fingers and clattered to the ground. "It belongs to Usagi," she whispered in disbelief.
**
Usagi's eyes studied Link. "Who was that?" she asked.
Link smiled, "That was Sheik he has been helping me with my quest." Link's eyes filled with concern, "Is your leg okay?"
Usagi nodded. "I'll be fine, Link but tell me what is your quest?"
Link smiled fondly at her," When I was ten I was summoned by the Great Deku Tree," He paused a he noticed Usagi about to comment. "The Great Deku Tree was a sacred being that protected the Kokiri Forest and those that lived there," Usagi blinked as she remembered the forest and its inhabitants.
Link continued, "The Great Deku Tree summoned me to destroy an evil that had been placed there by an evil sorcerer," Link smirked. "Helping the Deku Tree was the start of my battles. The only weapon I had was the Kokiri's sword and a Deku shield."
Usagi stared at Link in shock, "You first started to fight when you were ten?" A tear trailed down her cheek. "Poor, Link your childhood was ripped away from you. It's not fair."
Link stared at her in surprise. "Usagi, the Great Deku Tree protected me for ten years. I couldn't just say no," He explained "I saved it from an evil creature known as Ghoma. She was a massive spider and I was forced to fight with all I had. Only after a tiring battle did I destroy the monster. I was so proud of myself..." He paused and Usagi watched as tears of remembered pain entered his eyes. "I wasn't able to save the Great Deku Tree. The evil curse had destroyed it from the inside-out. The last thing it told me was that I had to travel to Hyrule Castle and talk to Princess Zelda."
Link smiled at Usagi. "Do you remember the green stone you found in the Temple of Time?" He asked. Usagi nodded. "That was the Kokiri Emerald, it was the first spiritual stone I received." Usagi's eyes clouded in confusion.
Navi landed on Usagi's hand. "Link and I found the princess and she ordered us to find the other two spiritual stones and bring them to her. She gave us an official letter and her guard Impa taught us an important song," Navi explained.
Usagi brightened, "You must mean Zelda's Lullaby."
Link nodded. "Yes, then Navi and I traveled to Goron city. We rescued the gorons from starvation by defeating a monster named King Dodongo."
Usagi closed her eyes and tried to envision Link as a child of ten. She giggled softly and Link stared at her. "You must have been cute as a kid," Usagi said. Twin pink roses bloomed to life on Link's cheeks.
"After retrieving the Goron Ruby from King Darunia I traveled to Zora's Domain." Usagi listened to Link's every word her eyes filled with wonder as Link related his history to her. "As you know this place is where I met King Zora. His daughter had vanished so I agreed to help find her." Link smiled as he remembered the feisty, tom boy princess. "I soon discovered that the local deity Jabu Jabu had swallowed Princess Ruto and I had to go in the creature to get her back." Usagi was filled with jealousy as she saw Link's smile. "After I rescued her from a creature known as Barinade the princess gave me the third and final spiritual stone, The Zora's Sapphire."
Usagi stared at Link in open-mouthed awe. "You did all that while still a child?" She asked.
Link nodded. "I traveled back to the castle and before I could even get into the marketplace I saw Princess Zelda and her guard Impa race away from the castle. She threw something in the moat by my feet," Link sighed. "You could say my new quest was to find the princess. After she left an evil man named Gannondorf rode after them. I haven't seen either Gannondorf or Zelda since. I went into the Temple of Time and found the master sword. My soul was frozen for several long years as my body grew into what it had to be to control the master sword." He smiled. "Imagine my surprise at what I have become."
Usagi frowned in thought. "So your mind is still that of a boy?"
Link shook his head, "No, I was forced to grow both physically and mentally." He grabbed Usagi in his arms and shoved her behind him as the door opened.
"Usagi, you're okay!" Sailor Venus yelled in joy as she noticed Usagi.
Usagi nodded, "Link, would never let any harm come to me if he could help it."
Link frowned at the Sailor Senshi. "Why can't you leave us alone?" He demanded.
Sailor Mars stepped forward her eyes glowing with hatred. "We're not going to let you trick Usagi any longer! We know you brain washed her!"
Usagi frowned. "Link didn't brainwash me. I'm staying here because I love him!"
Link turned to her startled and watched her blush. "I'm not sure what love actually is, but I do know that I care for you, Usagi and I would never let any harm come to you."
"Fire Soul!" Sailor Mars screamed aiming her fingers at Link. Usagi jumped and knocked Link out of the way and she was enveloped by the fiery magic.
"Usagi!" Link screamed in horror.
Sailor Mars stopped her attack her eyes pinned to Usagi as the girl whimpered in pain. "No," She whispered.
Link's eyes grew cold and he stepped in between the Sailor Senshi and Usagi. He brought out his ocarina and as he lay one hand on Usagi he played the 'Serenade of Water'. Blue light enveloped Usagi and Link as the two vanished.
Link cradled Usagi's body to his own and pulled out a bottled fairy. "O-negai," He pleaded, "O-negai save her." He uncorked the bottle and the fairy flew into the air over Usagi's body. Magic dust sprinkled onto Usagi's still form. Link watched his eyes filled with tears as he prayed that the fairy would work.