The Legend of Zelda: Divine Intervention Part 11
or
Saving the world classic Zelda style
Quincy007
Author's Note: I know its been a couple of months, but that's about as fast as I can put this out seeing as how I have a job to go to and other nonsense to accomplish. Well, if you hadn't guessed by now, we're approaching an end to this story, I expect no more than thirteen parts plus or minus an epilogue. So, if you've been reading this please continue to the very end. And I know that I don't own any of the characters Nintendo has claimed ownership rights to. Now you know this too.
*Hyrule Castle
While monarchies are similar to dictatorships in many ways the most important is that there is only one person ultimately in charge. Another thing about monarchies and dictatorships is that usually only one government official dies when the public rebels. And since it's been 24 hours since the Kakariko incident the public had been demanding something be done. The King summoned everybody who might be able to help him.
"And, your majesty, the disturbances haven't ceased with the earthquake in Kakariko. There have been reports of monsters of which haven't been seen since the evil Gannon roamed the world." Said a small thin scholar who had been researching these situations in the past.
The king rubbed his temples with an exasperated sigh. "This does not bode well. Where is my daughter? She usually has 'dreams' or something that helps. Better yet where is that no good boy toy of hers that vanquished Gannon the last time?"
Impa, Zelda's Shiekah nursemaid, shook her head; "We haven't heard from Zelda since she disappeared earlier this week and Link hasn't been seen since a brief appearance at Lake Hylia. I've got soldiers looking all over and from what we can tell Link, Zelda and five others two men three women were in Kakariko before it was leveled."
"So they could be dead?"
"I doubt it, the boy has survived worse and he wouldn't leave Zelda to die."
The King scowled, "What do the priests say? Are we being damned? Is this the end of days?"
The Temple of time's high priest shook his head, "This is not even thought of in the holy texts. The Goddesses do not destroy like this."
"Sir, there have been several people clamoring outside the gates claiming to be the prophets of the New mighty god the Fierce Deity Angmar." Said the captain of the guard.
"Who is that? Why is this happening?" The King stood up and began to pace and wave his hands expressively in the air, "Could somebody tell me what is going on?"
There was a loud crack and purple smoke as Ganondorf appeared in the throne room, "I think I can help you, but you aren't gonna like it…"
* The Deepest Basement of Dol Guldur
Sub Basement 57 was the last basement capable of supporting life and it did a poor job of that anyway. It was a foul and dank dark room lined with racks and chains, whips, iron maidens, thumbscrews, and various other torture devices of unknown means. There was one door on the far side of the room, but Farore couldn't see it at all. In fact, if not for the fact that she and Din gave off light they wouldn't have been able to see anything. She let her head hit the wall as she thought once more about how she got here.
Angmar had devised a way to break out of his prison and had been waiting for time when they would leave. He had probably been influencing the Triforce and Link to make situation come to this anyway. It was a brilliantly subtle plan, and she had to give him props for the excellent execution, for he had materialized them in the deepest basement of Dol Guldur in their human forms and the chains that held them prevented teleportation and restricted magic flow. Basically, they were stuck. Still, she had managed to use a time displacement spell to insert a new poem into Chavez's little book, realizing that the entire thing was written like that, the Goddesses inserting a poem when they needed to convince the reader of the book of anything. She and Din had just gotten off of a serious Limerick binge.
However, the time displacement spell had gotten caught on the chain's anti-magic field and now they were suffering the backlash. Time had altered so as that one minute seemed to last five, so on and so forth…then again, maybe it was just the environment.
"This really sucks." Farore said as she pulled on the chains that kept her secured to the wall.
Din scoffed, "Hah. I don't see what's so scary about this place. I mean we've been here for a couple of hours right?"
"It's been over two days since I put the poem in Nil's book."
"Two days?"
"I'm afraid so."
Din yanked on her chains, and growled. "Since Nayru isn't here, I suspect that Angmar needed her for something?"
Farore sighed, "Or maybe he just has an Oedipus complex the size of Manhattan."
Din frowned. Angmar was no doubt insane, and insane Gods are never a pretty sight, but an insane God in love with his mother? Creepy. "Didn't I say 'kill him now or it will come back to bite us in the ass?'"
"Yes."
"Didn't I say that he was to power hungry to stay locked up?"
"Yes."
"Didn't I say…"
"Holy shit Din, can't you ever fucking be positive? It seems like all you ever do nowadays is naysay, and my unlimited patience isn't so damned unlimited anymore!"
"…"
"…"
"Are you done?"
Farore had a look of deep concentration for a few seconds before nodding her head, "Yea."
"Good. Now, these chains are approximately an inch thick comprised of some material unknown to Hylians, probably a Titanium alloy of some sorts and also have an extremely high flash point. How could we devise…"
* Basement of Dol Guldur sublevel 2
Link looked at the simple square room with a distinct feeling of nostalgia. In the center of the room two large statues of something were standing next to each other and each wall had one door centered on it. He glanced at the torches lighting the area and smiled, "It looks like that is a one-way door, or a conditional door, but the one of the left wall requires a small key, the remaining door is open. Right, then."
Nil watched Link pull out a piece of parchment and sketch a small outline of the room with notes about the doors as he walked. He stopped in front of the door and looked at them oddly, "What are you people waiting for? We have to go this way."
Sheik looked around, "How do you know that?"
"It's the only door. That one is locked, and that one is a one way door. We'll probably be re-entering the room through that door. I suspect that this path leads us on a circular movement collecting a dungeon map and a small key, probably various rupees and several monsters to accustom you to the situation."
Nil looked at Attëa, who nodded, "Something like that, I can't tell you much about the exact layout, I normally use the teleportation pad in my office to get to the key locations, like the treasury—basement 45—and the holding cells—basement 57."
Link tapped his foot, "Look I know what I'm doing. This is my life. Stay with me and we'll be through here in no time. Fifty-seven levels…two and a half days, unless we stumble upon a teleporter. Oh, and everyone carry one of these." He handed out bottles with fairies in them.
Nil shook his head. This was all new to him, but Link had been traversing Dungeons and labyrinths since he was ten years old. So, why not? "All right, lets get this over with."
* Hyrule Castle
"Guards!" The King shouted loudly.
Ganondorf sighed, "I'm not here to depose you, as much pleasure as that would give me and despite my partner's smug knowledge that he could rule this kingdom better than you, however that is not the task we were given. I'm here to help."
Impa crossed her arms and stared the huge man down, "This is a new one on me. What are you up to?"
Ganondorf shook his head, "See? I told you it wouldn't work."
{It seemed to me that the king would have gladly taken any help he could get, I don't really understand why he's reacting like this.}
"Well, I have attempted to overthrow him before."
{Still, I mean even the Goddesses are willing to forgive you why not…never mind, these are Hylians.}
Ganondorf cracked his neck, "Look, you want to know what's going on, and I want to tell you. As far as I know, Link, Zelda, and a man named Nil Chavez, a Hylian Guard, are currently bearing the Triforce in its separate pieces. They went to Hell because they think that…what do call the root of all evil around here?"
The High-priest replied, "It is most often referred to as the great evil, Farore's bane, Gannon…"
Ganondorf snorted, "Well, its name is Bob and we are pretty sure that he/she/it was responsible for the monster related disturbances earlier, but I've been hearing the people rant about this new Fierce Deity Angmar, and it would appear that an angry god has taken over heaven ousted the Goddesses and is uh…currently making prophets to turn people to his ideals, and destroying the land and people until we worship him."
"You expect us to believe that?" The King said, relieved that his guards finally showed up.
"No, I don't expect you to believe me, I expect you to listen to the idiots outside your gate who have been screaming Angmar's name since Kakariko was leveled, and by the way, your relief forces still hadn't arrived when I left. So, back to the original problem, I'd bring one of those yoo-hoos in here and see what's up. I wish I could stay and give you more advice, but those spears look pointy and I've got more important shit to do than try to convince you I'm right. I will leave you with this open threat: Stay on the Goddess's side if you value your life. Because if I find out you turned coat when things looked bad I'll come back and kick your ass on their behalf." Ganondorf shook his head and disappeared in a purple cloud.
The king frowned, "Think he was serious?"
Impa nodded, "While I never thought of Gannon as a religious man, I would believe him."
"Crap, there goes plan A."
* Heaven
Angmar sat on his throne, his hands clasped together under his nose, covering his face as he watched a cloud that displayed pictures of the current events.
"You do realize that putting Ganondorf, a man who is hated by most, as your only defender for the time being was most unwise. My numbers will grow just to spite him."
Nayru sighed. He was right, Ganondorf was not ideal, but he was the only option they had, and he had proven a great amount of character by telling the king that he better stick by the side of right. However, Angmar seemed to have four aces. He had an obscene amount of power, more than she did, so an outright fight was out of the question. He had about a thousand years of spite behind him, so talking him down was not looking very good. How could she retaliate with her power? Plan, she needed a plan. Something that—
"I know you like these Hylian creations of yours, so I could spare them if you would just help me with the transition." Angmar interrupted. He was watching his magic cloud, which was in Nayru's opinion a sample of how simple and inexperienced he was. As a god he could simply know things, but instead chose to learn them by watching.
Nayru rolled her eyes but remained silent. She was glad that the Fierce Deity couldn't read her thoughts; omnipotent beings couldn't read other omnipotent beings. Perhaps she could use that and his simple-minded tactics to her advantage.
Deep in thought, she didn't notice Angmar's long stares.
What was she thinking that made her ignore so fully the suffering and destruction of the Goddess's prized creation? Was her mind breaking already? That would be no fun…to a point. Could she just be ignoring me? What was preoccupying her thoughts? Angmar thought as he watched her talk to herself
"Damn it! Why do you not listen to me? This is just like you, ignoring something important to go off on a mere tangent!"
"What will happen if they don't turn to you?" She asked calmly.
"I'll destroy them all." He said smugly.
"Leaving you to rule over what?"
Say what he will, Gods hate ruling over nothing. The antics of the Hylians barely held their interest some days. So even he had to admit she had a point, "Errghhh…If I can't win them over with prophets and promises, I'll take them over with armies and anger. That's it. I'll build an army worthy of the Fierce Deity."
Nayru groaned, but in actuality, this was a good idea. Not only would him making an army require time and energy that he probably couldn't spare, it would also make him appear the aggressor—not the savior—making him lose public opinion. All moot if everyone died.
Nayru frowned as Angmar was creating a race of monsters on his floating cloud. She turned to the wall and tried her hand at telepathy. After several failed attempts she couldn't get in contact with Din or Farore. Nil, Zelda, and Link were also unreachable. With a sigh of regret she realized her only hope on Hyrule was, Ganondorf. Majora
She felt a tingle of shock, Who? Where?
It's Nayru. Forgive my casual manner, but we're in deep kimchee here. The Fierce Deity has taken over heaven and I can't beat him in an all out fight. He's a little preoccupied now with building an army to conquer the uh…world and supplant all current rulers with his patsies. So, build me an army that can at least survive for at least three days.
She heard Ganondorf's bluntly negative thoughts before Majora responded {When can we uh…expect this army?}
If he plays fair and doesn't realize the extent of his powers, maybe twenty-four hours. If he learns something before the end and sends it back in time after he makes it…ten minutes ago.
What? Build an army a day or less? It can't be done!
Nayru nodded, I know, but could you at least try? I'll help you out however I can, though that isn't much. Anything serious, like smiting, and Angmar will notice.
Right, right…Is the situation that bad up there? I don't mean to sound like you aren't trying, but what is he doing that you can't do whatever the hell you want? You are a Goddess in your element, probably eons older than him.
Well, aside from kicking the crap out of us when we first arrived, thus weakening our powers, He sent Din and Farore to the deepest basement of Hell's dungeon and basically the Triforce trio, Din, Farore, and I need to be together and in agreement to anything truly powerful. And even though I am older than Angmar, we made the Fierce Deity extremely powerful because of what he was supposed to do.
What was he going to be?
Nayru gave a grimace and looked at Angmar, who was deciding if his army would carry swords or axes. He was to be the patron deity of protection and walk among the people ultimately becoming the great hero.
She could feel Ganondorf shake his head, That is what we call bitter irony. We'll see what we can do.
Nayru looked over at the Fierce Deity and sighed. She walked toward him, maybe if she tried negotiating with him…
* The Dungeon of all Dungeons sublevel 2
Nil grimaced as he wiped yet more blood off of his sword on a handkerchief. The worst part about this dungeon was all the monsters. Before you could even get to the inanely complicated puzzles that opened one door or revealed a treasure chest you had to kill every single monster in the room, not that you ever couldn't they all attacked with a simple minded rage. He started to say something when he got a cold shiver up his spine. Damn this place, so much cold air and all of it was stagnant, "Anyone else feel a chill?"
"Someone stepped on the spot where you are going to die." Attëa said as it looked at the map Link had uncovered by pushing a block that was attached to a mechanical trap door mechanism, that revealed a treasure chest filled with various parchments, inks, and a map.
Link frowned, "That's just an old wife's tale."
"Fine don't believe me, its not like I don't know anything about how people die."
Sheik tapped his foot impatiently. "Well, what does the map say?"
Link sighed, "This is a huge map, alright? I've never been in a dungeon with more than eight or nine floors and seven basements. Speaking of which, leave all the maps for floors 1 on up here."
Attëa took a pile of maps and stuffed them down its robes. Link didn't really care, he just didn't need them, yet something made him ask, "Does that thing ever get full?"
"The limit of the spell is something like sixteen tons."
"Then no."
"Yes."
Nil tapped Attëa on the shoulder, "Is there anyway I can find out who stepped where?"
"I'll look it up for you when we're all said and done, now be quiet." Attëa said offhandedly turning another page of the map.
Link pointed to a door, "That-a-way."
The next room was an empty square space devoid of light with one sealed door on the far end. Water dripped down slowly and they heard a rattling.
Link and Attëa reached for their lanterns. Link's trusty Lantern lit up a small area in front of them. Attëa's small handheld lantern was obviously magical because not only did he just push a button to turn it on, it cast a thin beam of light across the room.
"Everyone stay with a light, there may be enemies in this room." Link said, drawing the Master Sword. Sheik drew his long dagger. Nil and Attëa drew swords silently.
Nil heard an oozing, slimy, noise that reminded him of jelly being sucked out of a jar. He spun around and saw a blob rising out of the ground.
"Blob!" He cried, then swung his sword at the oozing mass. He saw a gleam in the white spots that could have been its eyes. The sword made a solid 'schlup' as it cut the creature in half.
Nil heard Sheik's slightly feminine voice yell, "More of them!"
Attëa and Nil turned back to back swinging their swords at the sounds of flying jelly. "There's so many." Attëa muttered as he fell two more with a single stroke.
Link was standing his ground killing the creatures in a slow methodical manner. He would make a clean slice and turn to the next closest enemy. When more than one attacked he would throw a Boomerang at it, stunning it until he had time to strike it with his sword.
It was over in about two minutes. The oozing bouncy sound of the blob's jumping sound echoed into nothing and there was a sound of sliding stone.
"Clean your swords, we're done here."
Sheik sighed and took off his wrapped headgear to wipe down his dagger and hands. A few had gotten to close and he had to punch and kick a few away.
"How do you know?"
Link used a handkerchief to clean the Master Sword, dropping it on the ground as he explained, "The door was sealed until all the enemies in the room died. It's fairly common in dungeons, though there were a lot more than usual. Oh well."
They made their way to the room where they started and Nil looked at Sheik, "I don't know about you, but I'm just going to stop asking questions when Link says something."
"Yea."
* Hyrule—Gerudo Fortress
The sun was high in the sky, and the heat was visible, all in all a normal day in the desert. The simple adobe fortress was well guarded, but Ganondorf didn't feel that mattered considering who he was.
He stood outside the main door and yelled, "Take me to the leader of the Gerudo, she's going to be in for a rude surprise."
The closest guard turned her spear towards Ganondorf, but stopped when she saw the flaming hair and sickly yellow eyes. "Lord Ganondorf. Lord Ganondorf has returned!"
Ganondorf didn't bother to try figure out if she was happy or sad. He was the only Male Gerudo and that made him King. They had to obey his orders, and it would give him a large starting force of soldiers.
The guard led him inside the fortress to a simple meeting hall. There was one other Gerudo in the room, and he instantly recognized her as Nabooru, a rather spirited woman whom he had tried to have killed on several occasions. It surprised him not that she had taken the lead in his absence, especially with his mothers gone.
"Ganondorf. Our mighty King has returned after how long? Ten years? Eleven?"
"Eleven. I've been dead. Its not something I can get over easily." He said tersely.
"What do you want? If you want your throne you can't have it. We've been doing much better since we stopped taking orders from men."
Ganondorf chuckled. "I don't want my throne, I'll pass it to you if you'd like it, however a situation has arisen and I need an army, a big one. We all know that the Gerudos are the best fighting force in Hyrule."
"What has happened that my spies haven't told me?"
"How many of your spies died in Kakariko?"
She gave a snort, "All but few."
"And how many spies do you have in the King's chambers?"
"As if that would be possible. You get arrested if the guards even think you are a Gerudo."
"Such terrible inequality. I will have to speak to someone about that." Ganondorf said with a shake of his head. "Then you wouldn't know about how Kakariko was leveled by the Fierce Deity to try and make the people of Hyrule bow before him. He is a new god in heaven trying to oust the Goddesses. Of course his prophets are putting a better spin on it than that."
"Fierce Deity? One of the guards was ranting about him. We all thought she was ill, but maybe she's been possessed. If what you say is true."
Ganondorf nodded, "It is true. And I'd love to offer you the option of verifying my claims, but I'm pressed for time. Fierce Deity is creating an army of monsters to take over the world and replace the people who believe in the Three with the patsies of the Fierce Deity Angmar."
"So you want the Gerudo Army to fight for the entire world?"
"No, I'm building a force that the Gerudos will probably be the Keystone. Hylians won't listen to me, but I may be able to convince groups of people and maybe the other races."
"I remember that you used to be quite the speaker, but I think that you have bit off more than you can chew this time Ganondorf, tell me though: Why are you sticking your neck out for these people who hate you?"
Ganondorf looked away for a few moments. It was true that Nayru had said they would talk about a second chance for him and Majora if all went well, but in Ganondorf's opinion this was anything but well. And if the Goddesses lost, not only did he lose his second chance at life, but any chance of saving his soul.
"I want to prove to them that the people are not sheep, and will fight for what we believe is right. If we turn allegiance to whoever shows a bigger fist, can we really say we have free will? I've done many things in my life, things I'm not proud of, things I'd do again in a heartbeat, however, I realize that it's all moot if I give up on the world."
"Very well. I will call a muster for the forces of the Gerudo."
"Get them on the march as soon as you can, the rally point is the LonLon Ranch. I must go."
* Heaven
"Well, what do you think?" Angmar said as Nayru finally got up close to him.
He presented to her a figure in the palm of his hand. It was a large humanoid with dark gray skin thick as leather, ferocious jaws and a high forehead. Its thick black hair hung around its shoulders, and it exuded power and fear.
"I think it's absolutely revolting. Not elegant at all."
"Excellent. Its very sight should make Hylians quiver. Once they see the power of the forces behind me, all shall have no choice but to worship me."
Nayru looked at him confused, "You're going down yourself?"
"When I say behind me, I meant it figuratively."
"Right."
Angmar noticed that Nayru was still staring at the creature. "Are you impressed? My first creation and it's a real force to be reckoned with."
"Well, a little." She admitted. She didn't recall giving Angmar that much power. He must be boosting it from somewhere, somehow. Yet another mystery. The questions were piling on top of each other so quickly that she almost couldn't remember the order in which to ask them.
Angmar looked at her expression and misinterpreted it, "I see you are concerned for Farore's children, I think its sad that an aunt cares for them more than her own son."
She glared at him, not an easy feet when he was almost two feet taller than she was, "Don't you even start with me Angmar. Gods are supposed to be responsible, well behaved beings of ultimate knowledge, wisdom, and power. We gave you every chance and then some to prove yourself worthy of the title, but you didn't want it. You were more interested in doing your own thing than taking an active part in the world. All you showed me then and all you're showing me now is that you are still a petulant child who took what was given to him and wanted more."
"I was never given a choice as to what I wanted to do! You told me to do this and to do that and you expected absolute obedience, like a…like a…"
"Mother expects of her child." Nayru said coldly.
Angmar growled, "You speak of responsibility! You preach this and that about how it should be and the way it's supposed to work, but what have you done to act in this way? Is locking me away in a sub dimension for thousands of years the way a mother treats her child?"
* Sub-level 10
Sub level 10 actually encompassed sublevels 10 through 17. The gigantic room stretched down seven levels and various pillars, platforms, tracks, tiers, statues, torches, mirrors, cracks, and switches were placed everywhere.
"Wow…this is gonna be cool." Link said with a smile as he clapped his hands together. Where to begin…"
Nil looked at room as a giant headache. He really couldn't enjoy himself because he was worrying about the Goddesses down in the bottom floor of the dungeon. He was impatient. "Couldn't we just jump down?"
"Aside from the fall probably killing us, we would then miss out on the important items placed in the room. It also might be important to getting further into the dungeon. A lot of these places have a central room that is the key to various puzzles. Like that switch back on level 5 that opened the door on level 9? Wouldn't that have pissed you off to have to backtrack like that? I try to avoid backtracking at all possible. Time is of the essence, so look for any of the things I've been telling you about on this level, in the immediate area: Eye switches, foot switches, unlit torches, crystal switches, crystal blocks, bomb-able walls, the whole deal."
Attëa looked around. "There is something important about this level that I'm forgetting…Link, give me the map."
Link handed it over while he began to look for things. He kicked a pot and picked up a rupee while he checked the room.
Sheik killed a Keese and looked at the ceiling. "Link, isn't that a crack in the ceiling?"
"Yes it is…Shit."
"What?"
"Remember that beam of light we saw on floor three?"
"What about it?"
"I'll bet my Uncle's house that we were supposed to make a series of holes so that the light could make it down here." Link said as the solution of the puzzle made itself clear, "See, we would light those torches with fire arrows to slide those mirrors forward, and burn away the cobwebs on the rotating platform's mirror, followed by blowing up the obstructing block with a bombchu so that the beam of light would cast itself on each mirror, then two people with Mirrored shields and another with a light arrow would aim at those switches over there, which lowers the bridge, giving us access to the treasure chest down there, and the rusted foot switch raises those pillars which we would have to run down while shooting the eye switches on the left wall to deactivate the laser eyes on the right wall, avoiding the falling block on the last pillar so that we can catch our breath on that landing, which has a musical scale engraved on the wall, which means I'd play a song, I don't know which one yet, maybe if we transfer the height of raised platforms onto a scale or something…"
Sheik stared at the room in sheer disbelief. "You're kidding."
"No. Quite serious. Actually, I think we may get a big key or the Dungeon item from a puzzle this inherently complex, but this is like no other dungeon I've seen. But basically, its all moot because we didn't blow open the ceiling earlier."
Attëa flipped the page of the map, "Actually, this is pretty good for us. If we can get to the end of this puzzle we can access a teleporter pad on the bottom."
Nil looked at the ceiling. "We have to blow up that ceiling panel?"
"And several others, but yes. And from the looks of walls here, we have to aim the Bombchu perfectly or else it will detonate on those protrusions from the wall."
Nil shook his head, "No. I'm not waiting another hour for someone to climb back up so that they can plant some bombs. If I'm going to trudge through a dungeon it's going to be new dungeon." He took off his right glove and started talking to himself. Sheik noticed a swell of energy coming from inside Nil.
The knight pointed his hand at the cracked ceiling and said, "Bang."
There was no light show, no beam, just a portion of the ceiling surrounding the crack just exploded, leaving a perfectly round hole.
"Is it a straight shot up or does the path curve?" Nil asked.
Attëa and Link poured over the map. "Should be a straight shot up."
Nil took a deep breath and held out his hand again. The magic energy swelled up again, but there was a much longer delay in the explosions. Nil closed his eyes and pushed his arm up, as if he was lifting a great weight. The rumbling started far away and worked its way down, until a huge pile of rubble fell out of the hole and onto the ground in front of them, followed by a stray beam of light.
Nil sat down, tired, "Wow. What a rush. I'm all dizzy now."
After a moment, Link grabbed another bottle from somewhere; this one filled a viscous green fluid. "Take a sip of that." He said as he started pushing boulders out of the way with his Golden Gauntlets.
To Nil, it tasted a bit minty with a hint of cream, however, it taste said nothing of its effects—he felt rejuvenated and healthy. "What was that?"
"Concentrated Green Potion. It's supposed to be diluted in water, but that works just as well. You do know how to read your magic levels don't you?"
"No."
Link rolled his eyes and Nil could have sworn he heard him mutter 'amateurs'. With a wave of his hand, Link delegated, "Sheik, help him. Please. Attëa, bring the map over here, I got an idea."
Sheik walked over and began to explain magic auras and magic levels while Link and Attëa turned the map every which way, jabbing and pointing enthusiastically.
"You all looked so surprised when I did that. Isn't the Triforce an obscenely powerful magical item?"
Sheik shook his head, "Actually, the Triforce of Power is the only Triforce that uses black magic like that. While bearing the Triforce of Wisdom for example, I can perform many different kings of White magic, while the Triforce of Courage is mostly status magic that helps in less obvious ways."
"So Link's Triforce doesn't let him shoot lighting from his eyes or Fireballs from his arse?" Nil smirked.
Sheik chuckled, "I heard that rumor too, but no. He uses the Triforce mostly to affect status changes to people. Have you ever seen a haste spell?"
Nil shook his head no as Sheik explained, "It generates more kinetic energy for your body to use, making you faster. Link can caste that and things like , all sorts of useful spells like protect and reflect or don't actually do anything but enhance his own traits."
"So Each Triforce has a different effect, because of the spirit it is supposed to portray? I'm Power, so I do powerful magic?"
"Yes."
"Right. I'll remember that." Nil looked around for a few more seconds before looking back at Sheik. "Have I told you that the fact that you are really Princess Zelda bothers me?"
"Yes, you have."
"Not to be nosey or anything, but why do you seem like a different person if you are Princess Zelda?"
"That's because technically I'm not Princess Zelda. Sheik was the greatest Sheikah assassin in Hyrule during the height of their power. What the spell did was bond me to Princess Zelda. My spirit watches from another plane, but when Zelda hit these two bands together," Sheik pulled back his sleeves and on his wrists were two silver bands with an intricate scrolling design on them, Nil noticed that the Triforce and Sheikah emblem was prominent, "Magic transforms her—our body and our spirits switch places."
"So, if you wanted, you could trap her forever in the other dimension and stay here?"
"You know, Let's not get into that, I could explain it to you, but this conversation is making us uncomfortable."
"Because I shouldn't know it, or because you just realized how freaky it makes you?"
"The freaky part."
"Right. What are they debating over there?"
"I don't really know. Link called this an inherently complex dungeon. Probably the most puzzling dungeon he's ever been in. He's using all of his tricks and some he just made up to get us through it. Still, I can't help but think that a dungeon designed like this has to have a person of Link's caliber in mind. And according to Attëa no person has ever made it very far into the dungeon."
Nil frowned. "So, by that line of thinking, Link's thorough nature might come back and hurt him? We might do well to start keeping our eyes open. Look for a simpler solution to some of these rooms."
Sheik sighed and was playing with the long chain again, "I wasn't worried until we came to this room. I don't want to find out what's at the bottom. Call it woman's intuition."
* Hyrule- Death Mountain
"This is a bad idea. I just get chills thinking about it." Ganondorf said as they approached the door to the Goron city.
{Well, I do think that this will be more challenging than the Gerudos. However, if you apply strong doses of logic and some good old fashion salesmanship you will prevail.}
"I don't suppose that I can just do some name dropping?"
{Well, that always works too.}
Ganondorf walked into the Goron City to find all the Gorons listening to a Goron in the center of the room telling them of the Great Fierce Deity.
"He had been locked away for eons by his oppressors and now that he is free, Angmar will do away with all oppressors, making all equal, haven't we all, at some point, felt oppressed by the Hylians?"
The impassioned Goron proceeded to make a lengthy speech about the injustices that had been done on the Gorons and how Angmar would make it all right. It was a beautiful speech and it would have swayed even the most steadfast of believers. Unless you have happened to know the truth.
Ganondorf thought about the best way to approach the Gorons now that they were all swept up in this prophet's speech. Majora interrupted his thoughts, {Ganondorf, why don't you let me handle this one? You've been working without sleep almost all week. Take a nap while I woo these simple rock folk with my honeyed tongue.}
"What did I tell you about speaking to other people?"
{You weren't going to let me do it.}
"Exactly."
{Please? I have a good idea but you could never pull it off.}
"If they try to kill us, do you know the transport spell?"
{Yes Mother.}
"Fine. Woo the simple rock folk." Ganondorf said.
His posture changed from that of a proud, powerful man to that of a small meek child who was not used to speaking in crowds. Despite how he carried himself Majora was not one to back down from a fight.
He walked down the stairs until he was on the bottom floor. Without hesitation Majora walked up to the prophet and punched him across the face, felling him in one shot.
The gasps and startled sounds of the crowd made Majora know that he had their attention.
{Please don't tell me that was your plan.}
Unperturbed, Majora took over the prophet's position on the stage, "Friends, Romans, Countrymen, Lend me your ears!"
The silence was deafening. Not a single sound could be heard in the entire arena. Majora looked at the Gorons who were looking at him with a sigh, he said, "No good huh?"
Majora cleared his throat, "Four score and seven years ago our forefathers gave…don't like that one huh?"
{We are all going to die.}
"I have a dream…"
The Gorons were beginning to stir. Majora sighed, "Damn. I was hoping I wouldn't have to use the Tolkien." Majora then spoke to the crowd, "The words of this prophet stand on their heads. In the language of the Fierce Deity help means ruin, and saving means slaying, that is plain. But I do not come here to beg."
Majora looked at all the Gorons in the room. "He would have you listen to this dribble and turn your backs on something that you have all believed in your entire life. Why now of all times? As most of you know, the Triforce has been splintered again and there are those who would try to repair the damage done by those monsters, but who, pray tell let those monsters free to begin with? Not the Hylians, Certainly not the Goddesses. Angmar is weaving a web to fog your minds while he builds an army! An army whose armor is thick and shields are broad, that after destroying Hylians in Hyrule, will come for you! Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but someday. And you will have just been sitting here, hoping that believing in a God that no one even knew existed until Kakariko was leveled in a disaster to convenient to be natural. Angmar thinks you are simple, that you will be easily swayed, but we all know that Gorons think quicker than most would believe. Use your heads, realize that this situation stinks."
Majora hopped down off the stage, and walked straight to Darunia, "Angmar is building an army to destroy the leaders of the free races and replace them with his patsies. If that is not the fate you wish for you or your people bring as large a force as you can muster and rally at the LonLon ranch. Within a day we go to war with an army created by a God."
The huge Goron nodded, "We'll be there." As Majora left, Darunia shook his head, "How strange are the twists of fate that bring Ganondorf to try and save the world."
* LonLon Ranch
It had not been a good few days in Hyrule. Monsters of immense size were showing up everywhere and with that Earthquake in Kakariko recently, it had been a hectic week all around…except in the LonLon Ranch. Nothing really happened in Hyrule Field, and the Ranch was at the center of it. Malon had often commented that the Ranch was the furthest from anything resembling excitement in all four corners of the globe. Until today, she hadn't realized how much she liked it that way.
Epona had been outside the gates again, the mare always returned to the Ranch when Link let her go. He said that he never really needed to tie the horse, because she would always come when he called her. So when she left to collect the horse, she was amazed to see a column of Gerudos in armor marching from the desert.
Spears, swords, and shields on the mounted forces, of which there were quite a few probably a thousand or so, but the foot soldiers were even more impressive. They stopped in the valley to the west of the ranch and set up a camp.
Malon didn't really know what to say. She just stared for the longest time. She heard someone say, "Damn they muster fast. And mounted troops too…good good, but I do hope they brought archers."
She turned to see a giant of a man with flame red hair with a grotesque wooden mask on his chest walk up. He looked very familiar, but she just couldn't place him. "Excuse me, sir?"
"Yes?" He said, still looking at the Gerudo Army.
"What's going on?"
"I'm starting a war with an army that's bound to appear within twelve hours or less. If you value your life, I'd stay in your ranch."
He must be the Gerudo General or something, but weren't they all women? "How big is this army you're fighting?"
"I'd say no less than ten thousand if Angmar is worth his salt."
Even Malon had heard of Angmar. The Fierce Deity who was trying to save Hyrule from Hylians. Malon knew better, because she knew Link and he told her of most of his adventures, especially of the Triforce. However, from what she had heard of Angmar…Malon looked at the Gerudo forces. "I think you're outnumbered."
"Hopefully the Gorons will bring a few more thousand. I'm not counting on it though. The Zoras were of no help. They said they would continue to guard the rivers and Lakes…useless fish…my last hope is that I can convince the Hylian army to come to our aid."
"Forgive my forwardness, but who do you think you are, trying to fight a God head on?"
Ganondorf looked down at her, "As much as I would like to, that is not my task. It will probably be up to Link or Nil to do it. My orders come from Nayru Goddess of Wisdom and Righteous War herself, so maybe we'll be favored."
"Who are you?"
"A very bad man. If you wish to stay out of this fight, I'd get inside. Go."
She led a horse back into the ranch and was out of sight. Ganondorf felt a swell of powerful magic. It was a massive transportation spell opening near Lake Hylia. Maybe the fish could prove useful.
"It begins." He said and ran off to find Nabooru.
* Heaven
Nayru was starting to take a serious look at herself. She knew better than to let Angmar's words have a serious effect on her thinking, after all, the decision to imprison Angmar had been made by all three of them after much deliberation on what was best for Hyrule…
Hyrule. Hylians. They hardly seemed worth it now, after all they had given for them and they still were nowhere near the enlightenment that they were expected to achieve. Even the Gerudos had a better understanding of life and living than their 'prized' creation. Even after all these years the Hylians were as ungrateful as Angmar was.
Angmar had finished his army and it was on the plains of Hyrule Field as she pondered. She briefly wondered how the battle would fare, or if Angmar had succeeding in creating a race beyond the height of men. Maybe Ganondorf's ragtag army would be doomed to die, was that its fate? Could be, Nayru didn't feel like checking the future.
When did it all go so wrong? Was it the many chances? Lackluster discipline? Poor Father figure? Well a complete lack of a father figure. Angmar too. He could have used all of the above. A drunken Nil could have done a better job. Nil…
Angmar was having a good time watching his army march in perfect step towards Hyrule's doom when he heard Nayru laugh. It wasn't a maniacal laugh of a broken depressed Goddess that he left her as when he had later won their argument, making her doubt her very essence. In fact, she sounded…happy. How tiresome.
"What is it now? Are you going to tell me a joke about a whore named Marge?"
"No. But I just thought of someone who I'd love to introduce you to…I do suspect he wants to be your father…after a fashion."
"What?"
Angmar was so surprised; he didn't notice his grand army fall out of step.
* Sublevel 17
Amazingly enough, it had fallen exactly like Link said it would. They were all standing at the bottom of the enormous chamber, next to a huge treasure chest; watching in amusement as Nil and Attëa were patting at the fire on their clothes.
"I can't believe you missed on the last one." Attëa said as it checked the edges of its enormous cloak.
"Just be glad that it was the last one and that we survived the fall." Nil pointed out looking at the thing that Link had thought was a musical scale.
Link was scratching things onto a piece of parchment, then looking around, something that Nil was beginning to find a little annoying. "Link, can I borrow your magic key for a minute?"
"Huh? Oh, yea, here." Link reached into his pocket and tossed the Lion headed key at him. Nil deftly caught it and approached the treasure chest.
Sheik looked back and forth between them, "Nil, are you sure that's a good idea?"
"No, but its more interesting than watching Link wonder about the whethertos and whyfores of a dungeon that has no solution."
He stuck the key into the keyhole and turned it. The ancient lock gave way and Nil lifted the lid. Even Link looked up as his face paled and his eyes grew wide. Nil swiftly closed it and relocked it, handing the key to Link again.
"What was in there?" Sheik asked.
"Attëa? If I ever made fun of you for that whole somebody stepped over the place where I'm going to die thing, I'm sorry."
"Sure…what's in the chest?"
"It's not a treasure chest. It's a coffin." Nil said, letting the terror on his face show.
For a minute no one said anything. Attëa crossed his arms and began to think. That teleporter should be behind that large statue of Bob underneath a bombable tile.
Link went back to scratching on the parchment. He found coffins all the time what was so special about that one? Hell, sometimes he didn't even find coffins he just found bodies.
Sheik was staring at the coffin, noticing the runes that were carved on it. It was ancient Hylian, the text of scholars and priests. He was sure of one thing though. It didn't belong right here in this dungeon. The coffin was protected with a ward of protection, one that Sheik hadn't seen since studying the ancient days, who ever this person was, they either died a long time ago, or someone with a strong sense of tradition buried them.
Nil looked at Sheik to say something, but he disappeared before he could. There was no smoke, no sound, no buildup of magic power, just blink and he was gone, If Sheik hadn't seen it, he was sure he never would have noticed.
"Now that's something that doesn't happen everyday." Attëa said, "Open the box."
* Heaven
Nil was particularly nauseous as he appeared on his feet in a large ostentatiously white arena. A nice view, he must be right by the stands. Taking the extra effort to keep his last meal down, Nil shook his head looking around. The entire arena was sheer white. Nothing seemed to cast a shadow. Nil tapped his chest a few times, to make sure he was there, then checked his pockets, to ensure he had all his equipment. He turned around and barely caught a flash of a tall man suited in black armor with white hair and bright face paint who resembled Link run him through with a huge double helix sword. The sword plunged through his tunic, mail, breastbone, and various internal organs before slicing his spinal cord before it exited his body. If the huge evil looking Link had twisted or moved the sword, he might have been sliced in two.
His attacker smiled evilly and pushed the sword up to the hilt into him. Then, he kicked the rest of the sword through, and before his world disappeared back into 'The Inbetween' Nil heard the clanging of a sword on the ground and a familiar voice scream his name.