WHEN WORLDS COLLIDE
By Katt006
Katt006@hotmail.com
December 30th: I know I should have had this up before I left for holidays but I guess I just ran out to time. Not too much to say again, besides read and sign a review ^_~ (They give me the incentive to keep going! ^o^)
Katt006
(Saga #3 The Gods.)
CHAPTER 14:
It took them a further two hours till they reached the gates of the eerily dark village. Navi flew high above their heads, attempting to get a better look. "This fog's so thick I can't see twenty meters ahead of me." She stated, squinting into the dark purple haze.
Charie motioned to the others with her hand. "Follow me."
She led them through the depressing streets. Most of the people had abandoned from the sight, shutting themselves up in their homes or huddling in a dark corner between structures. Only very few walked the streets, coughing and wheezing. The stress and ill-health clearly evident upon their thin and pale faces.
They finally halted, before them stood a long two-storey building made from large stone bricks and thin wooden roof. Two children were playing outside, running around in circles, leaving the dark mist to circle behind them. One of the children, a small girl, stopped in her tracks and looked up at the approaching crowd. "Oh look!" She cried, beginning to run towards them.
"Stay away from them Angel." Stated the other child, an older-looking boy with long brown hair. He caught up to her and grabbed her upper-arm. "We don't want visitors to think that we're beggars."
The girl nodded but still shook him off and turned to face him, excitement glowing from her deep Azure eyes. "But it's Charie! She's come back to us!" With that she turned and ran towards the other woman, arms outstretched.
Charie smiled and knelt down, folding the girl in her arms. She was around nine years old with the most light blue hair, appearing almost white. It was obvious that her strange colouring had given her the name. "Hey there Angel." Charie greeted warmly. "How are all the children going, oh… and the Nuns? Is everyone all right?
"Most of the children are fine, however some are fading away from us." She said quietly, with maturity much above her age. "Both sisters are under a lot of stress, but they keep smiling."
Charie patted the girl on the head and stood back up. "We'll have to go in and pay them a visit." She smiled and turned back to the group. "We'll stop here for a while, get some rest, re-stock and prepare to set off later in the evening."
* * *
A while later the travellers found themselves in a small but cosy room located at the back of the building. They were comfortably seated around a circular wooden table in the company of two nuns. "I had lived in this orphanage ever since I could remember." Charie informed her companions, indicating the two nuns beside her. "Sister Mary and Sister Joan found me as an infant and brought me up here. When I turned sixteen I was allowed to leave, however I ended up staying and helping out for many more years instead."
"We didn't know Charie's parents." Stated Sister Joan. "But we still wish to know who her parents were, those small wings on her back have awed us for years. We still haven't come across anything like it."
"The children? How are they all coping in general?" Zelda asked with concern. "When we came in here, the children I passed in the hall looked pale and weak."
It was Sister Mary's who spoke. "Their condition deteriorates daily. But they still possess high spirits and laughter, that's what keeps them going. As for our village, the unbalanced life force is taking its toll on everyone and we can't leave because of the magical creatures that await us in the fields just beyond the village boundaries. Honestly I don't know how much longer we will all last."
"And you still manage to keep a smile on your face." Navi said, taking a seat on Sister Mary's shoulder. "You are very strong woman."
"Well we can't just give up hope." Sister Joan spoke up. "Besides, we can't afford to have the children knowing just how much trouble we are in. It's their hopes and high spirits that will keep them going for longer than anybody else."
Charie turned to Sister Joan and took both of the woman's hands into her own. "I have felt too helpless for far too long, but now I have found the people that will liberate us all from this crisis and destroy Gannondorf's spirit once and for all."
"There is something about you people," noted the Sister. "And we believe in all of you. Please let us aid you in your quest by providing as much as you need."
* * *
The group set off once again early that night, leaving the unnecessary bulk of their baggage back at the village so they only carried their weapons and a small backpack of necessities and firebrands. It was around midnight by the time they reached the entrance to a vast cave that lay at the foot of a towering snow-capped mountain range. "In here lies the spirit of destruction, Manzer." Charie informed, speaking as though she was some sort of tour guide again. "This is also one of the borders of our realm."
"So we just waltz right in there, then what?" Link asked.
Charie shrugged. "What makes you think I know what else is in here? I know just as much as you."
'You seem to know a hell of a lot more than we do about our own journey though…' Impa thought suspiciously. Charie gave the older woman a quick glance as though she somehow heard the thought. Impa turned away, slightly surprised at the other's insight. She supposed they had no choice but to trust her, she hadn't led them into a trap so far…
They entered the first cavern. It was almost a sphere in shape built up with solid stone walls. there were no exits around them except for a hole in the roof, leading into an above opening.
"So I guess we just fly up there." Link stated with bland sarcasm.
"Nope." Impa stated, inspecting the cavern as a whole. "We climb. See?" She pointed up at the hole and to a length of rope dangling from its edge. "It's the remains of a rope ladder. If we stand on each others shoulders one at a time, we should be able to reach it." With that Impa knelt down and Link stood up on her shoulders in a crouching position. He grabbed Impa's upheld hands to steady himself as she grunted and stood back up. "Can you reach?"
Link finally let go of his support and reached overhead to the piece of moss-covered rope. "Got it."
"Good." She stepped away and left Link to dangle. Navi flew up to him and began to tickle him under the arms. "Hey that's not even funny!" He hissed to the fairy. She giggled and followed as he pulled himself up and into the shaft above. Malon was next up, followed by Zelda. "How are you going to get up Charie?" Zelda called down when she reached the top.
"I obviously can't get up. So I guess I'll wait here and guard the entrance." She smiled.
Impa gave the other woman a sharp and suspicious look. "You're leaving us? I'm sure those things on your back can propel you to at LEAST some height."
Charie shook her head. "They are far too small to support my weight. I will wait for your return. Remember what I told the sisters, I really do believe that you people can gather up what is necessary to destroy Gannondorf. I believe in all of you."
Impa's glare softened a bit.
'Trust me' Charie mouthed silently.
Reluctantly Impa nodded, they didn't have a choice did they?
* * *
The next chamber they entered was long and tall. Located in the middle were two shafts of blue flame. "Strange colour for fire, but fire all the same." Impa commented as she knelt down to extract three brands from their backpack. "This may well be our last chance to light these." From that chamber, a dark corridor followed.
They walked down it for what seemed like hours.
"Doesn't this bring back memories?" Impa mumbled. "I swore I'd never enter a small, dark, long confined space ever again…"
"I hope this tunnel doesn't go on for too much longer." Zelda commented, ignoring Impa's complaining.
"Maybe Charie tricked us and we have been led into a trap." Accused Impa.
"I highly doubt that."
"And why are you so trusting of her? Doesn't it seem strange that she knows a lot more than we do?"
"No. Her life force is kind. I sense no threat from her, trust my intuition dear Impa." The royal said wisely.
Link had been walking at the back of the group before his head erupted with a horrific pain. He let out a short but agonized yell and fell to his knees, clutching his head in both hands. A voice began to chant in his head, the same eerie voice that had assaulted his senses several times before. But this time it was stronger, MUCH stronger.
Zelda was at his side instantly, her hand on his shoulder. "Link! What is it? What's wrong?!"
"He's calling me…" He choked out
"What? Who is?!"
Link didn't reply. His eyes had turned back into that dark, haunted expression. He looked back over at the rest of the group. "You are not needed here anymore." He stated in a voice that was not his own.
"HELP!!!" Cried a voice from behind them. They turned and gasped. A huge hand and crawled through the wall and had a tight hold around Malon's waist. What horrified them even further was that it was pulling Malon back through the wall with it.
"Oh no. Malon!" Impa extracted her sword and rushed towards her friend. A second hand fell from the roof and lifted Impa high into the air before she could reach her target. It quickly pulled her through the ceiling before she could turn her blade to it.
"Impa… vanished!?" Navi cried. 'I remember these things… Link and I have encountered them once before.' Before Navi could think up plan of escape, if one was possible, a third hand ploughed her through the wall as though it was simply swatting a fly. Malon had somehow reached into her quiver and extracted an arrow. She drew in an uneven breath before plunging the sharp metal head into one of the fingers that bound her. The hand shuddered and quickly released her, retreating back through the wall. She then looked over to Zelda and Link. "Don't worry Zelda I'll rescue you… both of you." 'Somehow'
She suddenly felt something grasp her ankle. "Another? Oh god hel--" And in a flash she was roughly dragged through the floor. Leaving only a daunting silence. Zelda suddenly began to feel very afraid. All of her friends were gone, dead? No she wouldn't believe that. She couldn't. "Link?" She asked softly.
He replied by gripping a tight hand around her throat. Zelda tried desperately to pry his hands off but his grip was like steel and she soon found her attempts useless. So she tried to physically lash out at him with her fists but he kept her at a distance and she simply flailed at the air. Knowing nothing else to do she kicked him in the stomach and dug her nails into his arm, drawing blood. But the warrior didn't even flinch.
By this time Zelda was finding it increasingly difficult to breathe, however somewhere she found the strength to talk. "Link, this isn't you. Something… has come over you. …I… sense an evil force… You must fight it!!"
Link seemed unchanged by her words at first but after a while the princess saw inner-conflict reflecting in his eyes.
* * *
Link stood ankle-deep in clear water, facing nothing but an impenetrable mist in every direction.
The dark outline of a figure loomed several meters ahead, floating in mid-air. Link took several bold steps forward and was able to make the person out in more detail. The man looked to be in his early 30s, with straight black hair that touched his shoulders and the palest grey eyes Link had ever seen. Light blue robes bellowed about him in a non-existent breeze, sparks of blue lightening withered about his form, giving off a frightful feel of power.
"You cannot win against me Link." He said with a smirk of amusement. "In a way, I've already beaten you."
"Where are we and what do you mean by 'beaten'?" Link said in a dangerously low tone, eyes narrowing.
"I've already taken control of most of your mind and your physical self. I control your every move as we speak. Where we are now is a mental projection of conscious plain. In other words… a physical form of the dark abyss in your mind. This is where you're at inner-conflict with yourself. This is where you are weakest and it's also where you fought Dark Link back in your past."
How did he know all this? It HAD to be Manzer. Link held the glare but remained silent.
"Well?" If possible, Manzer's features turned even more maniacal. "Aren't you going to fight me? Aren't you angry? You do know that I hold the life… and death of the one most dear to you in the palm of my… or rather YOUR hand."
Link's eyes widened. "Zelda…"
"Yes! Fight me Link!" The man threw a blue bolt of lightening at him. Link nimbly dodged it, letting the energy hit the water. His teeth gritted in pain as the ankle-deep water conducted the electricity and sent thousands of vaults through him. He stumbled down to his knees in the water then scrambled back to his feet just as quickly. Instinctively, he reached behind his back for either his sword or shield but to his horror, found himself unarmed. The realization distracted him and Manzer had let loose another surging energy bolt. It hit Link directly on target and sent the young man flying backwards through the air to land heavily on the hard, water covered stone floor.
"Weakling." Manzer mumbled as four blue pulsing orbs of static formed around Link and began to circle him. The Hylian looked at them and then bowed his head in defeat, slowly closing his eyes. 'I suppose this is the inevitable…'
* * *
Zelda noticed that Link's grip had loosened a little and she leaned forward to stroke his cheek soothingly. She too had closed her eyes, in concentration, and was now glowing a bright gold. 'I will lend you the strength you need Link'
* * *
Impa couldn't remember what had happened. One minute they had been all dragged impossibly through solid stone walls by giant dark hands, the next minute all of them were sitting unharmed, back at the entrance to the cave.
"Whaaaat?" Impa sat on the ground and scratched her head in disbelief. "How the hell did we end up out here dammit!? What WERE those things?"
"You were dragged back out here by them." Charie informed, extending a hand to pull the other woman up. "They are a nuisance, but harmless."
"Oh! What about Zelda! We must go back in and save her!" Malon cried in distress.
"Shiiit How could I have almost forgotten!?" Impa swore.
"It will take you far too long to reach them." Stated Charie.
"So what do we do?" Navi buzzed anxiously about the Floxian's head.
"We wait."
"Give me a break!" Yelled Impa, furious. "Out future-queen is probably dying out there! Then there's Link, who seemed possessed by something. You expect us to just stand back and let them kill eachother?"
"No Impa I don't. But please do them one favour; show that you have more faith in your friends."
* * *
Link looked up as the blue orbs finally ceased to circle and now hurtled towards him, bringing doom. Link squeezed his eyes shut once again, waiting for the impact.
It never came.
Just before they reached him a bright yellow frocefield materialized about him, causing the orbs to disintegrate upon collision. "Don't give up Link." Zelda's voice echoed from what seemed to be everywhere at once. "You must keep fighting."
Link struggled back to his feet, confused. "Huh? Zelda?" He yelled into the mist. "Fight? How… I don't have any weapons!!"
"Oh Link. You don't need weapons in order to defeat an enemy."
The Hylian felt a strange throbbing sensation from his hand. Turning his palm over revealed a glowing triangle. 'The Triforce piece… My power!'
"Yes!" Said Zelda happily. "Use it!"
Knowing what to do now, Link held his fist up and let the golden light penetrate through the mist. Manzer was left vulnerable as he floated, eyes transfixed on the symbol. Link took one step forward, then another, until he was standing right before the god of destruction.
"Strength…" The god whispered in awe.
Link cocked his head to one side in question.
"You possess strength, and power." Manzer smiled genuinely. "Not only within yourself but in your love and friendship with others. This quality of 'power' is a key element that cannot be achieved on ones own, because it will corrupt ever the purist of hearts. Stick by your friends and allow them to aid you."
Link dropped the glowing light from his hand and nodded in acceptance of his words.
The god began to glow light blue. "I, Manzer. God of destruction, Symbol of power in correspondence to the Triforce, acknowledge your strength and friendship and hereby submit myself to your cause."
He finally erupted in a blinding flash of light that slowly condensed into a small blue glass sphere. Link bent down and extracted it from where it bobbed in the water.
* * *
The next minute, Link blinked in surprise as he found himself back in the cave. His eyes darted to where he had a firm grasp on Zelda's neck. Too stunned to do anything but gape at the scene before him. How could he have done such a thing without knowing?
"Umm… perhaps you should just… let go." Came Zelda's raspy response to his expression. "I can sort of… breathe better then."
Her words brought Link out of his daze and he hurried to comply with her statement, releasing her. The royal rubbed at her reddened and bruised neck for a while, slowly taking in lung fulls of air.
Link was stuck for words for once. "Zelda… I'm…"
She placed a hand on his shoulder, silencing him. "It's alright, I understand. Did you get it?"
Link nodded and held up the shining blue sphere. "Yes. Manzer."
* * *
"I can't believe you actually did it!" Impa laughed, examining the glass ball for herself after they had re-united with Zelda and Link. "One down, two to go! How far away is the next one Charie?"
"Several leagues in that direction," She pointed to a distant point in the valley. "Apparently it can be found within the town of Reshita. Don't ask me how though, it's a pretty strange place for a great god of destruction to reside if you ask me."
As the group moved further from the cave, none noticed the dark shadow perched upon one of the higher ledges that had been watching and listening the whole time. "So they are collecting the spirits of the three gods of destruction…" Trunks said thoughtfully to himself. "I thought they were nothing but mere legend but this proves it, they really do exist and that means that Kodas and I will be in need of them." He kicked off the small stony platform and hovered in the air. "Reshita eh? Looks like they may be in for a little competition for this next one." And with that he exploded into a force of ki and blasted off into the direction of the town.
The group all heard his exit and turned to see the light blue ki trail shimmering off into the distance in the early morning sunlight.
"Trunks." Malon said to nobody in particular.
"Do you think he's headed off to Reshita?" Link asked. "Who knows how much of our conversation he heard at the foot of the mountain."
Charie nodded. "He's gone in that direction. So it certainly looks like it."
"Great!" Impa clapped her hands together with enthusiasm. "This is gonna get interesting. Just make sure you don't leave me out of all the action this time."
Malon looked down in worry, did this mean they had to fight Trunks as their enemy again?
TBC…
Well I hope we all enjoyed that one! ^_^ Once again I give a HUGE thanks to all my viewers who read this fic and support me. I couldn't have gone this far without you all ^o^. Till next time.