I don't own any characters in this chapter; they all belong to Nintendo
Author's note: Sorry I haven't updated in a while. It's just that this is my longest chapter ever. Combined with writer's block, It took a while. Enjoy!
Chapter 6: Woodfall Temple
The first thing Link noticed when he entered the temple was the stench. It was horrible. Link could see the fumes mounting up on the ceiling.
How long am I going to survive in here? Was Link's first thought. He had drunk his entire red potion, and it didn't look like there would be anything lying around in this temple.
The other thing that Link noticed about this temple, was that it was very plain. The walls were bare. There was no decorations, no encryption, just plain, black, stone, bricks. Puddles of poisonous water littered the room. The floor otherwise, was nothing but dirt clumps and stones with tuffs of weeds here and there. Torches lined the room.
Link let out a sigh. He missed the monkey. He knew this temple would be a lot more bearable with him.
Tatli obviously read Link's mind because she chirped up and said, "Link cheer up a bit. Forget about the monkey."
Link didn't answer her.
To Link's left was a sign he hadn't noticed before. He walked over to it.
"Link, what does it say?" Tatli asked, bobbing up and down, and waiting for Link's reply.
"I'm not sure you want to know."
"Well tell me anyway."
"Fine. It says that only those worthy of being here will make it outside unless they turn their backs on their god now."
"And what's that supposed to mean?"
"It's quite simple. If your part of the royal Deku family, they hand you down a piece of paper that tells you all the traps that are set out in the temple. So it's basically degrading. Only the royal Deku family is allowed to enter because they are the only ones who know how to get past all the traps."
"You mean we have to figure out all the deadly traps ourselves?"
"You bet."
"This is ludicrous."
"Yep, so lets get started. What do you think the first trap in this room is Tatli?"
"Well, umm, Link, I'm no good at this."
"OK. The safe spots are over by those weeds. There are invisible boulders up on the ceiling," Link said in a rather hushed voice, trying to frighten Tatli.
It seemed to be working because Tatli began to quiver.
"R-really Link?" She asked in a shaky voice.
"Yup. Fairies can't see stuff like that because your eyes work differently. In fact, I think one's starting to shift a bit right now."
"OK, I get the message." She then quickly fluttered over to one of the weeds. The weeds however, started to shift. "Link, what's happening?"
Suddenly, a purple flower popped up. It wasn't a nice one though. It had huge teeth. Gnashing, and thrashing teeth. Teeth that could easily tear poor Tatli to bits.
Of course she didn't just stand there, she made good use of her little fairy lungs and screamed.
"EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEK!"
The flower lunged at Tatli, it's mouth open wide. Tatli cringed. It looked like her life was over. She was about to be eaten by a giant, purple, Venus flytrap.
TWHIT-SQUILCH!
"KREEEEEEEEEAAAK!"
Tatli opened her eyes. The giant flower had an arrow sticking out of his mouth. It fell to the ground. A clear liquid oozed out of his moth. She turned to thank Link, but found him laughing his head off.
"HAHAHA! I can't believe you fell for that. HEHEHE!"
"LINK, THAT WASN'T FUNNY!"
"Hey, you said I needed to cheer up." Tatli, ignored what Link said, flew over to Link, and kicked him in the head. "Ouch. Hey watch it. I take enough beatings as it is."
"Grrrr. I'm gonna get you for that Link, and you know I'm not joking." She began kicking him in the head again.
"OK OK. Sorry, it was just a little joke."
"Fine, forgiven." She let out a sigh. Link was busy trying to keep his laughter down. "Anyway, what was that thing?"
"That was a Deku Baba. They're pretty weak, but they have a vicious bite."
"Don't remind me." Link headed for the door on the other side, avoiding the tufts of weeds.
He went through the door, wondering what was in the next room.
"Whoooaah." Link said in awe. This room was much more impressive then the last room.
The room was ginormous. He was up on a ledge, thirty feet above a pond. The room was square, and still had bare walls, but it the thing that made this room most impressive was that in the centre of the pond, was a giant wooden flower.
The flower was beautiful. It had red, blue, green, and yellow streaks all over it. The streaks made a beautiful pattern of symbols. The flower consisted of eight pedals. But they were all crumpled up, as if protecting itself from the pond of poisonous water.
There were two doors in the room; set aside the one Link came out of One on Link's left, and one on the right. The one on his left had a ramp leading down to it.
But something else caught Link's eye at that moment.
Spaced around the gigantic wooden flower were a bunch of little flowers. They were a dark shade of purple, and had a set of spikes on all three pedals. They were sitting directly on the water. They seemed to be surviving fine in the poisonous water. Feeding off of it even. But the thing Link noticed most about these flowers was that they each had an eye in the centre of it. One great, big, evil, yellow, luminous eye.
And all eyes were turned to Link.
"Link," Tatli said in a shaky voice. "I don't like the looks of those flowers."
"I don't think they're much of a problem. I don't think they can move. But I need you to do something."
"So long as it doesn't include boulders or Deku Babas."
"Do you see anything in the centre of the big flower?"
"Come on you-hey. I do see something."
"Well fly down there, and see what it is." Obediently, Tatli flew down to inspect the unknown object.
Tatli quickly flew back and said excitedly, "There's a torch down there. There's a torch down there."
"A torch?"
"Yeah a torch."
"Well, how are we going to light it?"
"Umm, well, you could try that thing where fire comes out of your sword, and you spin around."
"Slight problem with doing that."
"What?"
"It's not fire."
"Well why don't you think of some bright ideas?"
"How about we explore the rest of the temple?" Not allowing anytime for Tatli to think of a smart remark, he hurried down the ramp, and attempted to open the door. Unfortunately, the door handle wouldn't move. "Darn it's stuck."
"Well if you didn't notice, there's a keyhole below the doorknob," Tatli said with a hint of annoyance in her voice.
"Damn." Link beat the doorknob with his fist in frustration. "Where could the key be?"
"Try using one of your arrow heads to pick the lock."
"My arrow heads are to big. They won't fit in that tiny hole."
"Well obviously the royal family has the key." Link turned around and slumped against the door, wondering what to do. He couldn't get to the other door. The poisonous water blocked the way.
Time wasn't exactly on his side either. Sooner or later, the poisonous fumes were going to get to him. He would be forced to play the song of time again, and return to Clock town. He would then have to travel back to the swamp, and try to rescue the owl and the monkey again. But it wouldn't do him any good if he didn't have the key. And next time, he might not make it through the woods of mystery.
Link took a swig from his flask, and nibbled at his nuts, wondering what good it would do.
He eyed flowers again. They were still watching him.
"Tatli, I might have an idea," Link said suddenly, hopping to his feet.
"What's that?" Tatli retorted.
"I think those flowers were placed there for a reason."
"Well yah, of course. To guard the big wooden flower."
"Are you just going to shoot down my idea before you even here it?"
"Yes because it's probably going to be some ludicrous idea like trying to use those things as stepping stones."
"Tatli can you read minds?" Tatli was suddenly thrown into a shocked state.
"Your not actually going to try and hop on those things, are you? They'll chew you up, and spit you out in a bloody corpse."
"Yeah I know. But the sign said that the Royal Deku family could get to their god. I'm thinking what if I was a Dekuscrub?"
"Link, I'm not going to allow you."
"And how are you going to stop me?"
"Um, well, alright. Try it. But I'm not going to be fixing you up." Sighing, Link pulled out his mask, and put it on. He transformed for what seemed like the umpteenth time. When he opened his eyes as a Dekuscrub, he knew his hunch was right.
The flowers' began twitching, as if they seemed confused. Then they locked in place, looking at the ceiling.
"Just because they're eyes twitched, doesn't mean anything," Tatli said, a bit surprised at the sudden turn of events.
Link jumped onto the nearest flower, ready to jump in the other direction.
The flower remained still. It felt stiff and hard to Link. Even when Link stepped on the eye, it felt like it was just a piece of stone.
"Hah. Told you they were stepping-stones. They're here so only a Dekuscrub gets the key."
"OK, so maybe you were right, just don't rub it in."
Link began hopping around the giant flower and towards his goal: The door on the other side.
He hopped off the last flower, and onto solid, brick ground. Relief swept over him. He took off the mask, and entered the door before him, bracing himself for what was on the other side of the door.
The minute he closed the door however, something happened Link didn't expect.
CRI-CLICK!
The door locked itself. Link immediately pulled on the door handle, trying to get it to budge, but it would not move. There was no way out. All that was in the room was bare brick wall with the exception of two torches on either side.
The room was completely square, and maybe twenty feet in length. There were no windows, or holes, with the exception of a hole in the top of the ceiling, but there was no way of getting to it.
In short, they were trapped.
"Good going Link, now what are we going to do?"
"Well, I can try to brace open the door, but I don't think that's going to work. Can you fly up through that hole?"
"Well, yeah probably." Tatli zipped up and through the hole with a quick spurt of wings.
A few seconds later however, she hurried back down, and hid under Link's hat.
"What's the matter with you?"
"Link, there's something up there. It's a lizard of some sort."
"What did it look like?" Tatli didn't need to tell Link: The answer presented itself by hopping down through the hole.
It was a lizard all right, but not you're average salamander. For starters, it was almost twice the size of Link. It was standing on two legs, and had and an armour vest on. Its green, slimy scales glistened in the dim light of the torches, emphasising its rippling muscles. A shadow was cast across its hideous face, making it look even more terrifying. Its yellow, menacing eyes glowed with an eerie light.
But look wasn't worried about what it looked like; Link was more transfixed on what was on its back. On its back, was a six-foot steel pole. On one end, was a spear, its point looking like a Hornet's stinger.
On the other end, was a shining, curved, steel blade; it's edge glistening in the dim light. It was a weapon that could do some serious damage.
And its target would probably be Link right about now.
The creature took a step towards Link, but did not unsheathe his deadly weapon. It snarled at Link, revealing his tiny, sharp, pointy teeth. Saliva dripped from his mouth, and his thin, long tongue swept his mouth.
He stopped when he was maybe a swords length away from Link, bent down, and got right in Link's face. Link could smell the creature's foul breath. Link was trembling at this moment. His eyes wide and his nostrils flared. He dare not draw his sword yet in case he might anger the monster.
Then the monster began to speak to Link in a whispered voice.
"Anssssssswer thy riddle that only the Royal Deku family hassssss knowledge of, and thee shall not be ssssslain."
"A-a-alright-t, what's the r-r-riddle?" Link spoke, trying his best to stop himself from running, and screaming in the other direction.
Sure he wasn't scared of a giant spider that could heal itself, but this was different. This creature was much more cunning then the spider. He also had a weapon, where one stroke would be sufficient if he aimed for Link's head. And when that cunning creature with a deadly weapon gets in your face, telling you you'll be slain if you don't know the riddle that only one family in all of Termina knows, is much more scary than a giant spider.
"Than ready thy wit," he hissed. "If thee hassss it, thee wantssssss to share it, but if thee shhhare'sssssssss it, thee doessssss not have it. Thee has three chancccccccessssssss to give me thy ansssssssswer, or thee shall be sssssssssslain. If thee givessssssss me thy correct ansssssssswer, then thee shall procccccccceed further into the depthssss of this temple." The creature stepped back, and crossed its scaly arms, waiting for Link to answer
"uu-um-umm, well, I could share my-umm, sword, and I wouldn't have it any more."
The creature held up one of its slimy fingers, showing Link that it wasn't the right answer.
The monkey would know this, Link thought.
"The ansssssssssswer issssssssssss ssssssssssomething you'd never get back."
"Um-well, how about if, I, umm, shared my heart?" The creature held up another finger.
"Thee hasssssssss one lassssssssssssssst chancccccccccce." Link pondered about this. What could he share, and never get back?
"Link," whispered a quiet voice under Link's hat. "Try time. You can't regain time."
"Umm, how ab-b-b-bout t-t-time?"
"Thee shall be ssssssssslain. You, of all people should no, that time can be regained. You are planning on doing sssssssso tomorrow." Link let out a gulp. He would now have to fight this creature, and it didn't look like he was about to give any slack.
"The ansssssswer, isssssssss: a ssssssecret." He then slowly drew the deadly weapon that Link feared. He slowly put brought it out in front of him, and pointed the wickedly curved blade at Link.
"Prepare to die."
He leaped at Link with a leap so powerful; it rivalled that of the giant spiders. Link quickly grabbed his shield, and held it in front of him. The lizard brought his weapon down upon the steel shield.
CLANK!
The blow was so powerful, that Link's knees buckled, but he managed to hold his ground. The lizard quickly back flipped, planning his next attack, thinking it wouldn't be good to attack him again at such close range.
Link quickly drew his little Kokori sword before the lizard could attack. He tried to push his fear aside so he could concentrate on the battle, but his eyes kept sweeping the deadly weapon, which the lizard held.
The lizard snarled at Link then began to circle him, trying to find an opening in Link's defence. Link kept his shield up; facing the Lizard at all times. The lizard was starting to get impatient, but it kept on circling, waiting for Link to make a move.
Link wasn't feeling up to the lizard's silent dare though.
Finally the lizard couldn't take it anymore. He lunged at Link's legs with the end with the spear. Link lowered his shield to meet the blow. Link then quickly swung his sword at the lizard's head, but the lizard brought the other end to meet Link's swing.
The lizard then swung his foot around and performed a spin kick on Link. The kick hit Link's shield, but it was so powerful, that Link stumbled backwards and fell on his back.
Wasting no time, the lizard quickly took in a deep breath of air, and let out a breath of fire.
FWOOOOM!
Yes, it was fire that was coming out of the lizard's mouth. And it wasn't a little lamp type fire, but a condensed form of hell in a straight line.
And the stream of intense heat was heading straight for Link.
Link quickly rolled out of the way, avoiding the raging inferno, flames licking his back. The lizard ended his blazing assault, and went back to using his weapon.
He swiped at Link's head with the curved end. Link ducked under it, and whipped leg around to trip the beast. The lizard jumped overtop of Link, trying to spear him, but Link's shield was there to meet the blow.
Link swung his sword at the lizard's legs just as it landed, but the lizard struck the floor with his blade, blocking Link's assault. Link flung his shield at the lizard's face. The edge struck his face, and the monster recoiled at the blunt blow.
Furious, the lizard advanced and he swept the curved blade at Link's legs. Link leaped over the weapon, and sweeped his sword in a perfect arc towards the monster.
The lizard moved sideways, trying to avoid Link's blow, but the sword grazed his shoulder. The lizard looked at the little cut. He then turned to Link and hissed at him.
It was a hiss of complete rage and shock. Shock because he was surprised that anybody could ever even touch him. He was outraged at this as well. His eyes narrowed, making them look even more menacing then they already were.
But it was too late to scare Link now however, because Link had managed to shove his fear aside. He was confident he could find a way to beat this monster. He would find his flaws and exploit them.
And right now, he thought he knew where he could find one.
Link held his shield out in front of Him as the lizard swung his curved blade at Link's middle. The lizard swung the spear end around and tried to land a blow on top of Link's head, but Link's sword was there to meet it.
The lizard back flipped, biding some time to try and rethink the situation. He saw his Link back up as well, holding his sword behind him. He seemed to be concentrating immensely on something, but the lizard was clueless.
The lizard was getting angrier with each blow that was blocked by Link. And was very angry for actually being able to hit him. He had never fought such a worthy opponent ever since Nosca had battled him. But this person seemed to be even better then Nosca. He showed creativity in his battles, and was able to plan ahead.
Link was heaving, and was glad for the little rest, but he knew that if he lowered his guard, the lizard would be on top of him, just like when he had dropped his guard with the spider. He wasn't going to let that happen again. Not now, the stakes were much too high. So instead of resting, he began to summon the old spell he had used on the group of Skulltulas.
The lizard had thought of a plan, and was ready to continue battle. It let out a veracious hiss, and advanced on Link.
"HIIIIYAAAH!"
WHOOOOSH!
Link let the energy loose. It was such a powerful spell, and Link knew it would do the trick. Just one touch of the magic and the lizard would feel a blow like he never felt before. He had never felt it before, but he knew the lizard would feel like a falling boulder hit him.
However, he never once felt the satisfying crunch of the Lizards skeletal structure.
He stopped his attack, and tried to find the lizard, but it was nowhere to be found. Link immediately fell back into a corner next to the torches. He put his sword and shield away, and brought out his bow and arrow. He loaded the arrow, and waited for the Lizard to make an appearance.
"Come out you coward, I know you're up in that hole of yours, so come out."
"Why should you call me a coward when you are hiding in a corner yoursssssssssssself?"
Link swung his bow above him and fired. The voice hadn't come from the hole; it had come from above him. The lizard leaped out of its perch, avoiding the arrow, and bringing the curved end down on Link's head.
Link however, wasn't holding a shield to protect him.
Link sidestepped the blow. The blade hit the ground where Link had been milliseconds ago, and cracked the brick it hit.
Link quickly dipped another arrow in the torch near his head and swung the arrow at the lizard's head. The lizard ducked out of the way. Link swung again, but the lizard back flipped out of the way. Link quickly inserted the arrow in the bow and fired it, all in a millisecond.
The arrow whistled through the air, aiming straight for its target. The lizard caught the arrow and snapped it in two, ignoring the searing pain from the fire. Link drew his sword and shield quickly before the beast could attack him again.
The beast took a deep breath and breathed another stream of fire at Link. Link side flipped out of the way, flames licking his heels.
The lizard quickly ended his fiery assault and hopped at Link, his spear extended outwards. The spear's target was blocked by Link's shield once again. Outraged, the lizard swung the bladed end around to try and reach around Link's shield.
His blow was successful.
The weapon scraped at Link's side, making him grab the gash, which the weapon left. The cut wasn't to deep, but it seared through Link's body, trying to break inside and rip Link's stomach out. Link bent down at the blow, but never lowered his guard. He had become careless, thinking that the lizard's weapon couldn't reach past his shield, but he had been proven wrong.
Link quickly went to stab the lizard, but the lizard knocked the sword out of the way, and extended his foot to deliver a powerful kick to Link.
Link however, wasn't about to be fooled for the second time. Link leaned out of the way, and did something the lizard totally didn't expect. Link grabbed the lizard's foot. He then used the lizard's own momentum from the kick against him. He began to swing the lizard around, and around, and around. The lizard was getting dizzy, but he did notice that something one the boy's wrist was glowing, a bracelet of some kind.
Link let go of the lizard and watched him fly face first into the wall.
THUD!
The lizard hit the wall with a sickening thud. Black blood trickled down the wall, and collected in a small puddle on the floor, but the beast was not down. It slowly got up, and turned to Link. It's eyes were narrowed even more than before, and his snarl wider. He hissed louder then Link had heard yet, revealing several bent, or missing teeth.
Link was heaving. His wound was beginning to take its toll, and it was getting increasingly hard to breathe. He was tired, and didn't know how much longer he could fight for.
If he was going to finish this fight, it had to be soon.
Link tightened the grip on his sword, waiting for the lizard to strike. The lizard circled Link again, seeing if Link would drop his guard, but Link never faltered. Link kept his facing straight at the lizard at all times, never once dropping it down even the slightest bit.
The lizard began to grow angry and impatient again. His temper running high and ready to burst at any moment, but Link remained on his guard, hoping the lizard would make the move he was hoping for.
The lizard couldn't take it any longer. His patience had been stretched to his limit. He let out a ferocious hiss, and leaped at Link, holding bringing the bladed end in a downward arc to Link's head.
Bingo! Link cheered in his head.
Link dropped his shield and sword, and did something the lizard did not expect. Link reached passed the bladed and grabbed the pole. The blade still scraped Link's arm, leaving a large gash below his elbow, but he ignored the pain. He mustered up his remaining strength, and slammed the pole on the ground.
And the lizard's head followed it.
SCRUNCH!
The lizard's head hit the floor with a sickening scrunch. The lizard's body fell to the ground after his head hit. He let out a hiss of pain, and defeat. Blood gushed out of the top of his head, and trickled out of the lizard's mouth. The lizard's one arm was broken, bent in an awkward angle. His breathing became ragged, and coarse, and his eyes had dimmed.
He was defeated.
Link walked up to the lizard, wrenched the weapon out of his hand, and threw it to the side. Then he was the one to get into the lizard's face.
"Who and what are you? And how did you know I could travel through time?" Link said in the most menacing tone he had ever used, not even caring about the lizard's wounds.
"My name is Yalton of the Dinalfos. We sacred lizards live to serve and protect. I-I wassssss told that you would come by a massssssssked figure." He coughed, blood spraying over Link's tunic, then he continued. "He told me you would come, and ssssssaid not to let you passsssss. My duty isssssssss to sssssssserve only the Royal Deku Family so I refussssssssed his requessssssst. He then vanished. I thought he wasssss lying. Then you came, and I heard you talking about a monkey, and not to worry about him because you were going back in time." He coughed up some more blood, but still managed to continue. "Pleassssssse, give me an honorable death. By ussssssssing my weapon. Thissssssss isssssss the honor code of the Dinalfosssssss. I wish not to be maimed."
Link slowly stood up, thinking about all that the Dinalfo had said. Skull kid now knew what he was trying to do. How? Link knew not.
"Pleasssssse, give me an honorable death," The Dinalfo pleaded again.
"Tell me where the key is first, then I'll grant you your request," Link said, softening his tone.
"Above."
Link gritted his teeth, and picked up the weapon the Dinalfo pleaded Link kill him with. He took one last look at the Dinalfo, lying on the ground, drowning in a puddle of blood. He raised the weapon overtop of his head, and brought it down upon the neck of the lizard.
* * *
"Link, how could you do that?" Tatli shouted at Link outraged that he had killed the Dinalfo.
"Because he asked to die, and wanted to die. He was asking me to keep his honour, and to some people, that's the most important thing," Link argued as he put on his Deku mask. "I plan on respecting his values and if you can't see that, then forget I ever did that because were travelling back in time tomorrow anyway."
Link hopped from flower to flower again, and making his way towards the door. Tatli had fallen silent, obviously not sure what to say back. Link took off his mask as he hopped off the last flower, and onto hard, cement floor.
After much coaxing, he had finally convinced Tatli to fly up through the roof, and fetch the key. Then they had left the room, arguing all the way out.
Link inserted the key into the lock. It was a perfect fit. The door slid open smoothly, and Link stored the key in his tunic.
Link entered the door, being extra cautious of what might be on the other side of the door, but it turned out to be nothing but a spiral staircase. Still, Link climbed them silently, ever so alert for what might being lurking around the endless corner of the spiral staircase. There were no torches, so Link had to use the light provided by Tatli.
Nothing happened on the way out. There were no enemies jumping Link by surprise, no blocks that fell on Link, no bottomless pits, and no poisonous fumes or water. Just stairs that seemed to go on forever, and ever.
After what seemed like five floors to Link, he came upon a door, just like every other door in the building. He opened it, ready for what was on the other side of the door again.
CRI-CLICK!
The door locked on it's own again.
"Link, quick open the door. Use the key so were not trapped in here with some other monster."
"Tatli, if we're going to figure out where to save this Giant, we can't turn back. We have to solve the traps in this room."
"Link, it's so dark in here though. I don't know how much my light will guide you."
Tatli was right. It was dark. Very dark. In fact, it was so dark that Link couldn't see his feet, even with Tatli's warm glow. Link couldn't see the walls, or the floor. It was like they had stepped in a dark void. His legs just seemed to vanish into the depths of the darkness. They didn't fade out, they just seemed to be chopped off at his knees.
"Link, you could at least open the door to let in some light."
"There wasn't any light in the stairway either."
"Just do it anyway to make me feel better. We at least then have an escape route if something goes wrong."
"Alright, I'll do it." Link turned around, and whipped out the key to open the door.
The problem was: there was no door. Darkness replaced the spot where the door had been.
"Tatli, Link whispered. "I don't know where the door is."
"What? Let me try?" And before Link could protest, Tatli flew towards where the door had just been. Link tried to grab her, but it was to late: She disappeared into the dark void. Link couldn't even see her luminous glow where she had disappeared into the black void.
"Tatli? Why can't I see you glowing?"
"Link, I can't see you either."
"Did you find the door?"
"No, I can't even see myself glowing." There was suddenly an awkward silence as Link began to do some serious thinking. He couldn't see anything past a few feet or two even if there was light.
Or can I?
Tatli suddenly fluttered back to Link's side. "Whew, I finally found you."
"Tatli, I need you to do me a favour."
"What?"
"Can you fly to my feet?"
"Umm, Link, you're starting to creep me out."
"Just do it," Link said more forcefully then he intended to. Quickly Tatli fluttered to where Link hoped his feet were. "Can you see my feet?"
"No, but I can feel them."
"I can't see you either."
"Tatli flew back up to Link's face and said, "Link, what does this mean?"
"It means that this isn't darkness."
"You mean it's fake?"
"Yes. And it also means..." He paused for a moment, wondering if he could eat his words so he wouldn't worry Tatli.
"Means what Link? Link tell me!" Tatli said anxiously.
"We are not alone."
Tatli gasped. "B-b-but Link, how are we supposed to know where this, umm, thing is?"
"It'll come to us." Then, he slowly drew the sword out of his sheath. He then slowly held it out in front of him, prepared for what might come. He relaxed; trying to ensure himself that at least the thing no longer had the element of surprise.
Tatli, on the other hand, started trembling again. Her wings quivered in the air, making her fly in a jerky motion. She lasted only a few moments before she flew under Link's hat. Link could feel her fragile little body shivering.
She was dead scared.
Link knew he should be scared to, but for some reason, he wasn't. Maybe it was because he grown accustomed to the dark during his adventures in Hyrule. He had been in places where the darkness was real. Where he couldn't even see the shimmer of his sword because Navi was hiding under his hat.
Link pulled off his hat and forced Tatli to come out.
"Tatli, I need your light, or I can't see at all."
"No, I'm not going to be slaughtered."
"Tatli, your to small for anyone to even get close to hitting you. In fact, when Navi was with me, she would fly right up into a monster's face, and distract it while I, would move in for the kill."
"Yes well I'm not Navi am I?" She then quickly zipped into the hat, which was in Link's hand. Link turned the hat upside down and shook it, forcing Tatli to come back out.
"Tatli, if they killed me because I couldn't see, then they would go after you next." Tatli fell silent. She seemed to freeze up on those last words. Her wings stopped beating and she plummeted into the shadowy depths of the artificial darkness. Link didn't even have enough time to grab her; she just dropped down before he could even react.
"Tatli!" Link shouted into the now very dark space from which he was confined to. Link quickly dropped down on his hands and knees, and began searching the floor for the little fairy. He couldn't see anything, for his gaze was now within the artificial darkness, but he had to find her.
Suddenly, his body ceased up. His muscles began to grow numb, and his vision started to blur. He tried to scream, but his voice had ceased along with his body. He couldn't breathe. He had been ripped from the privilege of breathing. His lungs were contracting, and choking for air, demanding that Link fight the force that was preventing him from breathing.
His body fell to the floor that was invisible to Link's blurry eyes. His body screamed at him to fight back, but Link couldn't. He just couldn't fight back, the force was that strong.
He just couldn't.
* * *
He was floating, That's what it felt like to him. It felt like he was floating around in a dark void, totally alone. It felt to Link like he was being sucked further, and further into the dark void, sinking deeper, and deeper into nothingness.
Suddenly, he began to sink faster. He was falling, no longer floating. He was falling faster, and faster. It was like the thing that had kept him floating, had suddenly gave away, and was dragging Link down with it.
And Link couldn't do anything about it.
He just let the thing drag him down into the dark pit with no walls. He just let his body hang limp as he was dragged down farther and farther. It seemed like he would just fall forever. This seemed to be Link's fate.
Then suddenly, there was a bright burst of light. White light. It seemed to break through an invisible wall, and create a hole in the void.
And Link was suddenly sucked towards it.
* * *
Link landed with a thud on the floor. Solid, stone floor. He wasn't falling, he wasn't dragged down into a pit of nothingness, he was back in the real world.
He was alive.
He pinched himself to make sure that he was actually back, and it wasn't just a nasty trick.
"I see you got caught by the Black Boes." Link turned around, startled at the voice that had come behind him. There, standing with a torch in his hand, was Nosca.
"But H-how did you know I was here?"
"Why else would you have rescued the monkey? You obviously are here for something?" Link slowly, got to his feet, his legs wobbling, and threatening to let go of Link's weight.
"It's a long story. Where am I?" Link looked around. He was in another square room. Torches were on either side of the wall, and they illuminated the dark room.
"You're in the room that we Dekuscrubs like to call: The Home of the Dark.
"You mean, this is the room with the artificial darkness?"
"Yes. The thing that creates the dark void is called the Black Boes. They can create a cloud-like substance that blocks out light. The substance usually only forms around Walls, ceilings, and floors."
"Then, why did I faint?"
"That was because of the actual Black Boes. It's just one of the other temple traps. They only give you about a minute to cross the room. If you knew about the trap, then when you entered the door, you would have gone straight to the other side and felt for the door. It's straight across the room.
"But as you knew nothing about it, you just stood still, and let the Black Boes get to you."
"What are black Boes?" At this, Nosca took out a wooden whistle and blew in it to make a loud and shrill whistle, that seem to echo off the walls. At first, Link couldn't see anything, but then he noticed that a particularly dark shadow in front of him. It was darker then a shadow should have been, and shaped like a teardrop, and only about the size of link's head.
But the thing that confirmed to Link that it was a Black Boe was that it had two large luminous eyes staring at Link. They seemed to pierce through Link, and cease him again.
Nosca quickly blew the whistle again and the shadow quickly fled to a crack in the wall.
"There are about two hundred of them. They can enter the human body and imprison them in their own soul."
"Oh. Well I'm glad you came then. Hey where's Tatli?"
"She's right here." Nosca held out his wooden hand, and showed that Tatli was sleeping soundly."
"Oh, I'll take her back thank you." He reached to grab Tatli, but Nosca drew his hand back.
"No. I'll only give her back when you tell me what you're after in this temple."
"I told you, it's a long story."
"I like long stories. We have lots of time, there's no poisonous fumes in this room." He sat down crossed legged and waited for Link to tell his story.
"Fine, I'll tell you." And Link sat crossed legged opposite of Nosca.
He told him everything from being turned into a Dekuscrub, to the moon falling down on Clocktown, to the witch and her raft, to the monkey's brother, and to the owl. There was an awkward pause of silence when Link told Nosca that the monkey was dead.
"So let me get this straight," Nosca asked Link when he finished. "You were turned into a Dekuscrub by a Skull kid with a powerful mask, changed back with a song called the song of healing, got a dream that you needed to free all of the four Giants, and came all the way down to the swamp to do so?"
"Yup."
"Well that is the craziest story I've ever heard in my life."
"So, you're saying you don't believe me?"
"Well, strange things have been going on?"
"Actually, the witch thinks Skull kid caused the poisonous water."
"Yeah, that is logical. We saw him down here. I think he actually went to the temple." Link started nibbling on his nuts that he got from the witch out of boredom.
"He did. He told the Dinalfo I would be coming."
"Oh, yes. Speaking of which, we need a new guard of the temple now that you've slaughtered him."
"Hey, he actually asked to die cause he didn't want to be maimed."
Nosca sighed and said, "Dinalfos and their honour code." Then he muttered under his breath.
"Hey, I didn't know the riddle? What was I supposed to do?"
"You must be very skilled. I remember capturing myself. That's the only way they will serve you." He let out a sigh, then continued, "Well, I guess I could help you get to the chamber of our god. We haven't been there since the water turned poisonous. Even though I had the leisure of the owl, I was forced to guard the Deku King. So anyway, lets get going." He sprung up on his feet.
Link got up as well, but with his hand outstretched. "Tatli please?" Nosca sighed and handed Tatli to Link. Tatli was still sleeping soundly, obviously worn out by the Black Boes. He tucked her safely under his hat, then followed Nosca to the other side of the room where a door was. As he exited the room, he saw the black Boes creeping out and making their eerie substance again.
Link stepped through the door, to see he was even higher up in the room above the wooden flower. They were up on a ledge, and the Flower was below them. Across from them was a door up on a ledge, but they couldn't possibly get over there without a bridge.
"Well, how are we supposed to get over to the other side?"
"Simple. I'm quite sure you've already noticed the torch in the centre of the flower, right?"
"Oh, so we have to light it?"
"Yup. But usually we'd have a stick, light it, and toss it down to someone so they could light it."
"Oh. Well that's no problem." Link drew an arrow, and before Nosca could protest, Link had inserted the arrow into the flame of Nosca's torch. The arrow caught on fire, and Link withdrew it.
Nosca watched, stunned as Link put the arrow in his bow, drew it back, and watched the arrow fly directly towards the torch.
THWIT-FWOOM!
The torch caught fire with out a problem. The flame throbbed, as it grew into a little flaming tower. Then, Link's eyes watched, amazed at what happened next.
The flower began to move. It seemed to shake, and rumble. The water around it was rippling in an eerie dance. The purple flowers with eyes began to twitch. They eyes were spinning around in a crazy dance. The wooden flower began to rise above the water, it's large pedals unfolding. It soon unfolded completely so it was flat, and made a bridge towards the other door. The Purple flowers began to twitch more violently.
Then, the water started bubbling. It began to swirl around in little whirlpools. Link counted ten whirlpools in all. Then, the water turned into crystal clear water.
It was no longer poisonous.
"Wha-What happened to the water?"
"That's one of the traps. I mean, if it wasn't there, then what would be the point of making Deku scrubs hopping from flower to flower?"
"Ah," Link said as he watched the flowers curl up into a little ball, avoiding the new, fresh, clean water. Not even the fumes were mounting on the ceiling anymore. Link could holes up on the ceiling which he guessed was to vent the fumes.
Nosca lead him across the still flower that now mad an elaborate bridge.
"So where does this lead?"
"To the very last trap before the chamber."
"What?"
"The room of pits."
"Let me guess, there are a bunch of hidden pits." Kinda, but not quite. It's actually one big pit above this room. If you fall, you just better hope you miss the flower. Do you know how to use a Deku Flower?"
"Um, is it a giant pink flower?"
"Yes."
"Yup. I know how."
"Good." Then without another word, headed through the door to another spiral staircase. The staircase wasn't so dark this time, but Link knew it was because of Nosca's torch. It seemed to be another endless staircase.
The trip was silent. Even the padding of their feet, and the odd clink of Link's weapon seemed to fade in the emptiness of the staircase. But, the trip did end eventually, and Link found himself in a large room. As Nosca said, there was no floor, only two ledges on opposite sides. One which Link and Nosca were on. Littered over the pit were various logs extending from the wall, with Pink flowers on them. One pink flower was on the ledge that Nosca, and Link were on.
"So, we just have to hop from flower to flower right?"
"Well, there's a little twist."
"What's the twist?" Before Nosca could answer, three big blue hornets appeared from a hole in the ceiling. They had shiny blue scales, and radiant red eyes. The each had two, skinny blue arms, and two, skinny blue legs. All of them had a tail, as long as their body was. And at the end of the tail, was a sleek, giant stinger, surrounded by static electricity.
"That's the twist," Nosca finally answered. Link wasn't paying attention at that point, however, for he was busy blowing a bubble. Nosca took no notice. Link jerked his head back, and let the bubble fly.
SMAACH!
The bubble hit the nearest Hornet, creating an explosion of light. The unlucky hornets body turned a bright shade of red, then fell into the pit below.
Nosca turned angrily to Link and half-shouted, "What do you think your doing? We need to keep the traps intact.
"Oh give me a break. Those things can't be that hard to catch." And Link started blowing another bubble. But Nosca unwittingly tried to pop the bubble to stop Link from blowing up another bubble.
SMAACH!
The bubble exploded in Link's face, and he was forced back against the door. Nosca, however, wasn't so lucky. He fell backwards, and over the edge of the ledge.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAH!" Nosca screamed as he teetered his head disappeared over the edge. Link could do nothing as he watched the Dekuscrub that had saved his life in the room with the black Boes, fall over the edge. He held his breath wondering if this would be the second life he would witness die today.
SPLOOOOSH!
Link sighed with relief. Nosca had missed the giant flower, and had hit the water.
Link peered over the edge and shouted, "Are you OK?"
"Yeah, I'm fine."
"Whew. How long will it take you-"
"LINK WATCH OUT," Nosca shouted. Instinctively, Link jumped over the edge, whirled around and grabbed on to the ledge. A blue Hornet had nearly stabbed Link. Link located the third on coming straight at him.
And the third one had Link trapped, hanging on the ledge.
Link quickly blew a small bubble, whirled his head around, and spat the bubble at the oncoming Hornet. It hit the Hornet in the eye. The Hornet flew off course, and ran smack-dab into the wall. Link guessed it had knocked itself unconscious because it fell, landing with a sickening thud on the flower.
Wasting no time, Link pulled himself up on the ledge. Only to hop back down to avoid the last Hornet. The Hornet whirled around, pulling off a U-turn, and heading straight towards Link.
Just as the stinger was about to pierce Link, Link swung his foot up towards the Hornet, vaulted off the part of the tail that was just above the stinger, and performed an Arial flip up on the ledge while charging up a bubble.
The Hornet didn't have enough time to react as the bubble hit the Hornet smack-dab in the face. The hornet turned a bright shade of red, and fell down into the pit.
Link did a silent cheer at his quick victory.
"AAH-"SPLINCH!
Link stopped cheering, immediately, and looked over the edge, fearing the worst.
Shock quickly overwhelmed him. The worst had happened.
The Hornet had missed the flower, and had landed directly on Nosca, it's stinger sticking through Nosca's belly.
Link had just witnessed death for the second time that day. Link could do nothing but stare. Stare at the innocent life that had just disappeared.
I'm going back in time tomorrow, it doesn't matter. You have to free the Giant, Link said to himself, trying to calm himself down before he froze again. He hopped in the flower, and began sailing across the chasm from flower to flower, nearing his destination with each short flight.
At last, he landed on the ledge opposite to the door. He removed his mask, swore a silent prayer for Nosca, then woke Tatli up.
"HEY! CAN'T A FAIRY GET SOME SLEEP?"
"Tatli, were here."
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN HERE? Oh. I see," Tatli said, suddenly falling silent that they had finally reached the end of all the traps, and finally had reached the chamber of the gods.
Link whispered, "here we go," then opened the door, and slid into the room.
___________________________________________________________________________________________
Next chapter: Odalwa's chamber.
Author's note: I've noticed that the word count that is portrayed by FF.net is actually wrong. So for those who wish to know the word count, it'll be at the bottom of each chapter from now on. It's also on past chapters as well.
Word Count: 8 343!
Word count for story so far: 32 212!