The Day the Universes
Chapter Fourteen
Nintendo Prison Cells
Nintendo Home Base
Game Realm
Time: 1800 hours
Allstar gazed up at the ceiling of the prison cell, thinking about the events that led to his imprisonment. He clearly remembered the various characters surging forward after the announcement, grabbing him and Aftermath Link and hauling them down to the prisoners' wing of the base. He remembered his friends loudly protesting the captures and Dark Link being dragged away from him, kicking and screaming. Mario and Luigi were yelling for order, Luigi looking guilty at the fact that his brother was demanding the blonde Links be put into the most secure of the cells.
"Why? What makes everyone think that it was us blonde Links that betrayed Nintendo? We'd never do that!" he muttered softly and sat up as he heard a knock at the door. He hurried over and looked out the little barred window in the door. NES Link stood there, an expressionless look on his face. "Thank Miyamoto, you're here! What in the name of Nintendo's going on here?! You know we'd never betray the system!" Allstar cried. NES Link sighed and shrugged slightly.
"Not according to the files and evidence. Aftermath Link says a blonde Link is the one who is allowing X Spirit's Nintendo Hunters into the base. We had no choice but to put all of you in the prisons until we can figure out what to do." he remarked. "We're also not sure what to do about the FanFics you brought with you. We asked them to go back to their Authors, but they insist they don't know anything about them."
"Of course not! They're not FanFics!" Allstar cried, "They're real Links! The one that looks like me, the one with the Gilded Sword, he's the real deal! He really is Link!"
"You've been speeding around Center City again, your brain's gone to mush or something." NES Link muttered as the base suddenly shook, "What in the name of Entities was that?!" Alarms blared and the communications came on with a bolt of static.
"All Nintendo characters report to your battle stations! Another wave of Hunters are attempting to breach the Famicom Caverns!" GC Samus Aran declared, "This is not a drill! Report to all battle stations and prepare for countermeasures!" NES Link looked a little suspicious.
"Famicom Caves? But, only the pre-Millennium Links knew about the caves...." he murmured and looked at Allstar, "I'm off to help fight, but this is a new turn of events." With that, the redhead ran off to get back to his post.
"Everyone's going crazy!!!" Link wailed, hiding behind the sofa in the Zelda quarters as the other Nintendo Links, the ones still free, raced about to gather weapons and items. Maverick watched them and flipped open his SPC. Text scrolled up the screen quickly and he frowned.
"We're going to go and visit the pretty boy. Then we're getting Dark Link. I have an idea." he hissed and headed off, cape fanning behind him as he ran. Elfin, Waker, and Link all looked at each other, then raced after him.
"What?! What's going on?! What did you find out?" Elfin yelled out. Maverick led them deeper into the base as the building continued to shake and the alarms wailed louder.
"Zero sent a message! The figurine for this world is located about 200 miles to the northeast!" he called back, the group of elves racing down halls to the closed off sector of the base.
"So?!" Link exclaimed as they reached the doors that blocked their way into the prisoners' wing. Maverick plugged the SPC into the locking mechanism, plugged a strange cartridge into the computer and tapped it. The cartridge folded out and opened to reveal a tiny keyboard. Maverick raised his left hand and allowed the shadow power to reform his fingers to slender, nearly needle-point variations. He used them to type at the keyboard at incredible speeds.
"Forgive me, I fail to remember that you don't think like I do. 'Know thy enemies'. Microsoft Fortress is located at the area Zero described." he remarked as the lock smoked and popped open. "The figurine is at Microsoft Fortress."
"Oh, that's wonderful. So we're going to go to the one place everyone's afraid of to get rid of a doll?" Elfin growled. Waker winced as Maverick glared back at them, his hand reforming back into its normal shape.
"I fear no mere base. Only the Entity that inhabits that foul domain, and I can easily stay out of their reach." he growled and kicked the doors open, "Spread out! Find the morons!"
"I heard that." Allstar grumbled from behind the first door in the wing. Maverick ran up to it and motioned for a boost. Link picked him up and looked into the cell with him. Allstar sat on his cot, frowning, head resting on one fist. "You gonna bail me out or just gawk at me?" he drawled. Maverick snorted and hopped out of Link's arms.
"I should just flood your chamber with gas and put you out of your miserable existance. But then the Nintendo of this world would lose an Allstar and have all of its games that star you and Dark Link freeze up and fail." he muttered as he started to overload the lock on the cell door. It fizzled out and the door slid open.
"Thanks." Allstar muttered as he walked out, "Now let's free the others." Maverick rolled his eyes but walked on, opening the cell doors for WindWaker Link and Aftermath Link. The muted elf ran out and hugged Allstar tightly, sobbing with all his heart. "There, there. It's okay, Aftermath. We're okay, we're not mad at you." Allstar soothed the boy.
"So what now? We know where the figurine is, but even if you destroy it, who's to say that these guys won't just jail everybody again?" Waker asked worriedly. Aftermath pulled away from Allstar and waved his hands excitedly. "Huh?"
"I think he wants to tell us something." Elfin remarked and pulled out a notebook, "Okay, kid, spill." He handed the book and pencil to Aftermath and the group watched as the boy scribbled in it furiously. After a few minutes, during which the lights flickered a few times, he handed it up to Allstar Link and looked ashamed. Maverick glared at him, a lip curled in disgust. He still couldn't believe that this was an alternate version of himself.
"You had the data right and wrong at the same time?" Allstar asked the muted elf, "The first blonde elf betrayed us? But that's me! I'm the first blonde Link Nintendo ever created!" Aftermath shook his head furiously as Dark Link ran up to them from the hall.
"Hey, Bro. Soon as all Limbo broke loose I figured you'd make a move here." Dark Link greeted with a dry grin, "So how's about we grab my car and get outta here before we all die?"
"Hold on. We're onto something here." Link remarked as Aftermath pointed at his mouth. "At least, I think we are."
"Little Link, you're not making any sense." Allstar muttered as Maverick blinked a few times, thinking hard. He grinned suddenly then. He had the answer, now, would the others get it in time?
Aftermath looked exasperated and looked around. He spotted Waker and brightened. Jumping to him, he reached into the Hero of Winds' bag and pulled out a pink flower.
"Hey! I was supposed to give that to Tetra!" Waker declared as Aftermath crushed the petals and rolled them in his hands, "Hey!" The Links watched in confusion as Aftermath smeared the pink mush onto his lips, rubbing hard until his mouth was stained a bright pink color. He tossed the petals away and then struck a pose before the group, grinning openly at them.
"That looks so gay." Elfin grumbled. Allstar blinked at Aftermath for a moment, wondering what exactly he was doing, before gasping in realization.
"That's it!!" he cried. Everyone stared at him as if he had gone mad. "I'm not the first blonde Link!" Dark Link's eyes widened as he understood. "CD-i Link! He was the first one!"
"That explains the breach in security." NES Link's voice suddenly said. The heroes jumped and looked around warily. "Don't bother looking. I'm talking through Allstar's earring. I had forgotten about CD-i Link. He was pre-Millennial, but still blonde. He was supposed to usher in the new wave of Zelda games for Nintendo, but after the fiasco with Phillips, he was put in the Omega Vault. We thought he was destroyed, but apparently, we thought wrong."
"So we were set up?" WindWaker Link asked, scratching his head.
"Seems like it. The battles are getting rougher out here. I can't maintain contact with you and still keep fighting at my post." NES Link reported, "So, I can't report your little breakout." Allstar Link grinned and looked at his twin, who mirrored it exactly.
"Really? What a shame." Allstar said slyly.
"Yeah, real shame. So if you manage to get out of the base by way of the escape pod at the end of the next hall, I can't tell Allstar Mario about it." NES Link answered, a slight grin evident from his tone of voice.
"NES Link, man, I owe you one!" Allstar declared with a laugh.
"Yeah, I'll put it on your tab. Now hurry up and finish your mission! I'm running out of missiles!" NES Link replied and the connection broke. The group nodded at each other and ran on, Aftermath Link following them as WindWaker Link stood behind, confused.
"Who's CD-i Link?" he asked no one at all.
**********
Outside Nintendo Home Base
Game Realm
Time: 2200 hours
With the group strapped into the pod and the base fading into the distance, Allstar had time to relax a bit and think of a plan. The only snag he hadn't accounted for was Aftermath Link jumping into the pod with them and refusing to leave.
"And how are you to help us? You're a mute and a traumatized boy!" Elfin declared, "Not to mention your little stunt back there is making me question your sexuality." Aftermath shot him an angry glare and sat in his seat, nose turned up as he held out a white Game Boy Advance. Maverick gazed at it in momentary confusion, then shrugged.
"The Game Boy Advance Communicator. It was a good computer for me in my world, but I had to destroy it to complete the Nintendo Backup System." he remarked, "I suppose you intend to use it to help us hack into Microsoft Fortress's computer system and hunt down the figurine?" Aftermath nodded, locking eyes with him. "You do understand that I hate you as much as I hate these others, correct?" Aftermath Link only narrowed his eyes at him and for a long time, the two of them just stared at each other. Allstar Link and Dark Link were busy controlling the pod towards the Microsoft Fortress, but the other heroes were able to watch the events before them.
"Are they going to do this the whole way there?" Elfin grumbled and blinked as a small sound of discomfort was uttered. Maverick broke away and settled back in his seat, looking slightly paler than he had before. Aftermath continued to watch him.
"Something seems to be happening to them." Link murmured softly to Waker, who nodded in agreement.
"Enough!" Maverick snapped, whirling his head to glare pointedly at Aftermath, "I'll not listen to the ravings of a pathetic child like you!" Aftermath scowled and sat back, glaring out the window. The other heroes blinked in confusion.
"Hey! No fighting in the back or I swear I'll stop this thing and turn us around!" Allstar yelled. Dark Link groaned loudly and smacked his twin on the head, then rubbed his own as the connection between them transferred the pain over.
"He started it." Elfin declared, pointing at Aftermath, who sat up in surprise, looking down at the finger pointed at him.
"Nuh uh!" he replied and pointed at Maverick, who only flipped him off. Aftermath winced at the sight. Link and Waker scowled along with Elfin.
"Dirty gestures like that shouldn't be taught to children." Link muttered and cried sharply as an explosion rocked the pod and threw him back against his seat. The other Links also cried out in surprise and anger as Allstar struggled to bring the escape pod down for a safe landing.
"We've lost the right wing! Engines down to 45%! We're losing altitude!" Dark Link shouted over the wailing of sirens and the roaring of failing mechanics.
"Not like we had much altitude to begin with! The pods were designed to skim 700 feet above ground!" Allstar called back, flipping switches from overhead, "Prepare for a bumpy landing, everyone!" The pod was hit again and the left wing was blasted off as well as part of the hull. Link and Waker stared out in horror at the land outside as the smoke and flames licked at the ship.
Not far from them was a war between machine and characters, Hunters of all shapes and sizes attacking Nintendo characters viciously. Above the side of good were the Legendary Twins, lashing out over and over with lightning and a strange glittering mist. The two heroes watched it for only a moment before the pod shook again.
"We're going down! What the hell keeps hitting us?!" Allstar yelled as a blade soared by the pod. Link undid the straps to his chair and looked out at it, gripping the hull tightly. He watched it spin in the air like a boomerang, curve around and head straight for the pod.
"What in the name of Nayru's Love is that supposed to be?" he murmured and cried as Maverick grabbed the back of his belt and yanked him back into the pod as the blade whizzed by, narrowly missing decapitating him by a few seconds.
"Unless you want an early death, I suggest you stay in here." the captain snarled at Link and braced himself as the pod slammed into the ground. It dug out a trench some few yars long before finally stopping in front of the fortress. Allstar staggered into the back and took in the sight of battered heroes.
"Everyone okay?" he asked as Dark Link stumbled out and grabbed him for support. Elfin was slumped back against his seat. He stirred after a moment and glared up at Allstar with one eye shut.
"Remind me to write a speeding ticket for you. Gah, how the hell did you get your driver's liscense here?" he growled and rubbed his head, unhooking his straps. Aftermath shook his head and freed himself, giving Allstar a thumb's up after looking himself over.
"This was nothing compared to the crashed escape pod I was in when Nintendo Home Base exploded on my world." Maverick replied indifferently, calmly unhooking the straps from his seat and getting up. Link got up and fixed the bottom half of his tunic.
"I seem to be all right. But by the fires of Din, what attacked us?! It looked like a spinning blade!" he declared. Allstar looked confused as Waker got free and clung to Link.
"You almost got killed! Please be more careful!" he cried, "Don't die here, Hero!" Link looked surprised by the sudden embrace and gazed down at the younger Hero of Winds.
"I won't die here. I have to get home. I'll be more careful from now on." he promised him as the twins kicked open the door and jumped out of the pod. The others followed them out and looked around. Oddly enough, the base seemed deserted.
"I thought you said the figurine would be here."Elfin told Maverick, who only glared at a pair of figures shadowed by the massive fortress.
"It is. Look in front of you." Maverick hissed, folding his arms on his chest. The group looked at the direction he pointed out and froze. The two figures walked forward, revealing themselves to the band of heroes. Allstar instantly unsheathed his sword and the others followed suit. Aftermath ran aside, shaken by the display and hoping to stay out of the fight.
The figurine had four arms, each of them held a blade shaped like a boomerang. It was slender with a bulky chest to hold the arms, and a saucer-shaped head like a brass UFO. Next to the figurine was a Link, abnormally thin and wearing a metal mask around his head that completely covered his face, thin slits for his eyes, nose and mouth. The Link folded his arms over his chest and just looked at them.
"We meet at last, Ocarina." the new Link hissed hollowly from within the confines of his mask. Allstar gripped his sword tighter and bared his teeth, growling deep in his throat. "I see you've come to stop me and X Spirit from destroying Nintendo."
"What are you doing?! How dare you betray us! You were supposed to be locked up and in stasis in the Omega Vault!" Dark Link snapped, "Why in Realm are you helping our enemies?!"
"Revenge." the new Link said simply, "I found this contraption and sold it to X Spirit to use to power his new Nintendo Hunters. He wanted information to get them into the base. So I told him what I knew."
"Why?! What do you get out of this whole deal?!" Allstar barked, "CD-i, have you gone completely insane?!" CD-i Link slowly moved an arm to point at him.
"You, Ocarina, and your mentors and juniors. In exchange for my information, I was promised you and all the Links in Nintendo to do with as I please." he answered darkly. Dark Link glanced over at Aftermath, who shook and trembled, eyes wide. "However, I will call off the attack....for a price." CD-i Link added.
"Price?! What kind of price?! How dare a Link commit such heinous acts!" Link snapped as Elfin and Maverick prepared to whip out their guns.
"Why does he have that mask on?" Waker asked suddenly. Allstar glanced back at him and grinned cruelly.
"Because of his face. He was the ugliest Link ever created and rules are rules with Nintendo. No Link may have a flawed face.So Mario had the Legendary Twins create a mask that was sealed over his face to prevent anyone from ever seeing it again. Nothing can break the seal except the Twins." Allstar replied, "He was supposed to be the first blonde Link, the star of the next series of Zelda games to launch Nintendo's newest system, but after that mess up, he was scrapped. I was created to replace him and took over Ocarina of Time, Majora's Mask, and Super Smash Brothers on the Nintendo 64. That's why he keeps calling me Ocarina."
"What price?!" Dark Link yelled, "What do you want, you twisted elf?!" CD-i Link looked straight at Allstar, chuckling.
"Ocarina, I will stop the attack of the Nintendo Hunters, if you give yourself to me." he said with all seriousness. Allstar blinked and jerked slightly, dumbfounded by the offer.
"WHAT?!" the other Links roared in anger.
"You heard me! It's Nintendo's fault I look like this! That I was forced to become the black sheep of the Zelda series! Never to show my face or star in any new games!" CD-i Link snapped, "So if you want me to spare your precious home, Ocarina, give yourself to me! I've got a machine that will transfer my program into your body and I will truly become beautiful! Never again will I be doomed to hide behind this damnable mask!"
"Are you crazy?!" Allstar cried in shock and horror, "You want me to just give you my body?! Just like that?! What happens to the real me?! My program and memories?!"
"I have no need of them. They will go to my body. You can then spend your days, alive, but experiencing all I went through. The lessons will be good for you, Ocarina." CD-i Link replied, "So, do we have a deal? The lives of everyone at Nintendo or your perfect face and body...which is more important to you?"
"Don't do it, Allstar!" Link declared, "Think of what he could do with your face! He could do more evils and the name 'Link' would be forever sullied!" Allstar looked down at the blade of his Master Sword, staring at his reflection, the perfect flawless face. Which was worth more to him? He had his duty as an Allstar to do everything possible to ensure Nintendo's survival, but he didn't want to give up his freedom to be...himself.
"Bro, what are we going to do?" Dark Link whispered and blinked as Allstar straightened and sheathed the sword, "Brother?!"
"'We are Nintendo; the luck of heaven. We do what we can, with what we have, and await the results. We are blessed with the luck of heaven. We are Nintendo. Nintendo shall endure.'" Allstar said softly, his eyes closed, "Forgive me, Nintendo, I do what I must." He opened them and glared at CD-i Link, eyes glittering and filled with disgust at the traitor, at himself, and at Nintendo. "CD-i! I accept your terms! Call off the attack! I'm yours to do with as you wish!" he cried, holding up his hands in surrender. The others stared at him in shock and disbelief.
"NO!" Dark Link cried, "No, you can't do that! Link! I don't want to lose you!"
"What the hell's gotten into you?!" Elfin yelled angrily, "Don't give in to that perv!"
"No, no! What about keeping your name intact?! He'll destroy your reputation!" Link cried as Waker tried to run forward to stop him, only to be held back by Maverick.
"When will you learn not to forever put Nintendo before your own life?" Maverick hissed, "You're still pathetic. Nothing will change my mind about that. You just want the easy way out." Allstar pursed his mouth as he walked up to CD-i Link.
"Shut up! All of you! It's my choice! I'm not going to let my friends and family die because of me! Not back at the Master Tournament, not back at the Supreme Tournament, not now, not ever!" he finally yelled, ignoring the tears starting to stream down his face. Aftermath started sobbing, hugging himself as he watched the events.
"Nnnnn!" he struggled with himself, "No!" The group looked at him in surprise. "No! Link! Don't go away and leave me alone again! Don't die and leave me by myself! Please!" Aftermath cried, speaking more than he had ever spoken before, "Please, Link, don't leave us all like this! I love you too much to just let you throw yourself away to the bad guys like this! There's a better way to stop the Hunters! I know what to do!" Allstar Link stopped just in front of CD-i Link, looking back at him in shock and surprise.
"Little Link?" he murmured. Maverick pulled out the SPC, aimed it at the figurine and let it scan. He studied the readout and frowned. No real weakness. So who was best suited to battle this one, this Zita figurine?
"It's the machine next to him! I know how to destroy it! If it is destroyed, the Hunters will all self-destruct!" Aftermath declared, "I scanned it with my GBA Communicator while you guys were talking! I know it's weak point!" Maverick looked at him in mild surprise. What had the GBA picked up that the SPC didn't?
"You do?" Allstar remarked hopefully as CD-i Link raged suddenly and backhanded the hero.
"Shut up! You're still mine! And I'm not calling off the war! Nintendo will still be destroyed and I'll have a beautiful face!" he snapped as Allstar fell to the grass and Dark Link cried sharply with him, hand flying up to his injured cheek. "Zita! Attack that boy! Kill him!" CD-i Link ordered the figurine, pointing at Aftermath Link, then at the other elves. "Kill them all! Ocarina is mine! The others mean nothing!"
"NOO!" Allstar screamed, flipping over in attempts to get to his feet so he could fight the doll. The figurine jerked to life and flailed its arms suddenly.
"Zita! What are you doing?! I ordered you to kill those Links!" CD-i Link snapped just before one of Zita's arms swung by and sliced his neck cleanly in half with one of the blades it held. Aftermath and Waker screamed in horror as Link, Elfin, Dark Link and Allstar all yelled in shock and revulsion. Maverick watched the head roll away and frowned. That wasn't the end of CD-i Link, not by a long shot. Death hadn't stopped him before. It would only be a matter of time before another of CD-i's clones was activated and resumed his plans.
"Oh, Miyamoto!" Allstar moaned, face pale as he scrambled back to join his brother. "I'm going to have nightmares forever about that!" Zita flailed even more, then began running around. The heroes immediately resumed battle stances, trying to figure out how to strike the doll without winding up like the recently beheaded CD-i Link.
"How the hell do we attack this thing?!" Elfin yelled out, watching its movements and dodging it as it berserked and lashed out at random. It paused, then suddenly made a beeline for Aftermath Link, who froze and screamed. Allstar and Dark Link spotted it and shrieked, racing forward to help him. Maverick spun around and watched them, wide-eyed.
"NO!" Allstar and Dark Link both yelled, throwing themselves forward to cover Aftermath Link with their bodies. Time seemed to slow down for the young captain as he witness the blades come down on the two Allstars, cutting into their backs and letting blood gush out, the screams of the twin elves bringing forth a rush of memories.
Blood everywhere, like the blood soaked ground where Allstar Link was murdered in his world long ago, X-Bronto pumping his mentor full of bullets while Dark Link faked an escape with a pair of backpacks disguised as Advance Link. Both of them dead because X Spirit wanted the power of the Twins for itself, wanted the technology of the GameCube for itself. Both of them dead, leaving him all alone in a cold cruel world. And they were about to die again, leaving his alternate alone.....
"What the hell is he DOING?!" Elfin suddenly screamed as Maverick shrieked madly and raced at Zita, both Master Swords drawn, "GET BACK HERE!"
Maverick heard nothing, all he knew was to destroy the machine before him, destroy it and save a world, save a boy, from the pain and torment he had gone through. Swords and blades clashed and sparked as the the two fought viciously, like animals, in close combat, never parting, only fighting. Aftermath Link lay under the bodies of his mentors, sobbing piteously as they bled heavily. The twins struggled to stay alive, softly crying in pain as they continued covering Aftermath, continued protecting him, even as the two berserkers rampaged nearby, the heroes of three other worlds helpless to do anything but watch as Maverick and Zita lost themselves to the battle, to the bloodshed, to the madness of war.....