Chapter 10: The Showdown with Darkness
"Welcome, to your final resting place," said Khimena. Zinc opened his eyes. Khimena had transported them to a large platform over an infinite abyss. Zinc looked at Link and Zelda who were coming to.
"Where are we?" asked Link.
"I created an alternate dimension for our battle," said Khimena. "I shall kill you here and return to Hyrule to destroy it."
"Not if we can help it," said Zinc. He and Link drew their swords.
"I doubt very much, that you can," said Khimena. He held out his hands and two black swords appeared in his hands. Khimena swung one of his swords at Link. Link jumped over the blade and slashed Khimena's back. Black blood oozed from the wound, which completely healed in a matter of seconds. Zinc charged at Khimena and kicked him in the stomach. Khimena, unfazed by the attack backhanded Zinc. Zinc went flying off the edge of the platform. He barely grabbed the edge to keep from falling and pulled himself back onto the platform. Zelda fired a magical blast at Khimena, who simply dodged it. Khimena fired a blast of dark energy at Zelda. Link jumped in the way and guarded himself with the Mirror Shield. The attack hit the shield and rebounded back toward Khimena. Khimena took the attack straight in the chest, but was completely unharmed.
Khimena laughed. "Did you really believe that I could be harmed by my own attack?" Khimena fired an energy attack at Link. Link dodged the attack and landed behind Khimena. Khimena turned around and slashed at Link. Link jumped over the blade and punched Khimena in the face. Khimena didn't even blink when the attack connected.
"Hey, Khimena!" yelled Zinc. "Try hitting me with one of those energy blasts."
"Very well," said Khimena. Khimena threw an energy blast at Zinc. Zinc ducked behind the Shield of Reflections. When the attack hit the Shield of Reflections, it was converted into light energy and reflected back at Khimena. Khimena took to the air to dodge the attack.
"You missed," said Khimena.
"Who said I was aiming for you?" asked Zinc. Khimena turned around in time to see the light energy headed straight for him. The attack hit Khimena before he had time to dodge. Khimena was thrown back by the attack. He saw Link holding up the Mirror Shield aiming it at Khimena.
"You reflected the blast off of your brother's shield," said Khimena. "Kudos. Let's see you fight what you can't see." Khimena snapped his fingers, and all of the light was sucked out of the room. The room was left pitch black, making it impossible to see. Link heard Zelda scream out in pain.
"Zelda!" yelled Link. Link realized his only hope was the power of the Light Medallion. Link felt himself get hit hard in the back of the neck. Blocking out the pain, Link felt around in his pouch until he felt the insignia of the Light Medallion. He pulled out the medallion. Link heard Zinc shout some obscenities at Khimena. Link focused all his magic on the Light Medallion. The medallion pulled itself out of Link's hand. It started glowing as it hung in midair. It started spinning rapidly. It emitted a bright flash and light was restored to the room. Link squinted as his eyes adjusted. He saw Zelda lying on the floor. He rushed over to her.
"Zelda, are you okay?" Link asked, helping her up.
"Yes, Link, I'm fine," said Zelda. "Link look at Khimena." Link looked up. Khimena was shielding his eyes from the light still being emitted from the Light Medallion. Zinc ran at Khimena and slashed him with his sword.
"That's for hitting me when I couldn't see," said Zinc. Khimena was only marginally fazed by the attack, and he was quickly recovering from the blinding effects of the Light Medallion. Zinc retreated to where Link and Zelda stood.
"I grow tired of these games!" shouted Khimena. He shot a blast of dark energy at the trio. They all managed to dodge the attack.
"Link, what do we do?" asked Zelda. "Everything we try only slows Khimena down."
"Let's try the masks," said Link. He pulled out the Fierce Deity's mask and put it on. Zelda and Zinc did the same with their respective masks. In a flash of energy, the masks had turned their wearers into their oni-forms. Oni-Link shot an energy disk at Khimena. It hit Khimena knocking him back a few feet. Oni-Zelda fired a stream of light energy at Khimena. The energy hit Khimena pushing him back. Oni-Zinc fired one of his energy disks at Khimena. This attack sent Khimena over the edge of the platform. Everyone let out a short cheer, before Khimena shot back up over the edge of the platform and landed at the center of it. Khimena shot a wave of energy at the trio again. Everyone narrowly avoided the attack.
"I've got an idea," said Oni-Zinc. "It's a long shot, but it's our best hope."
"What is it?" asked Oni-Link.
"Do you remember what the Book of Seals told us?" asked Oni-Zinc. "'Only three as one can emerge victorious.' Let's try combining our parts of the Triforce."
"That's a good idea," said Oni-Zelda. She held out her hand. Oni-Link placed his hand on top of hers, and Oni-Zinc placed his hand on top. Their Triforce pieces emerged for their hands and combined into the complete Triforce. The Triforce floated a few inches above their hands. It began drawing energy from the masks, returning everyone back into their original forms. The masks fell to the floor devoid of power. The medallions flew out of Link and Zinc's pouches, and the Triforce drew from their power. The Triforce rose several feet in the air and, a stream of light poured from the Triforce forming a column between the Trinity and Khimena. The column of light faded to reveal a man. The man wore a white tunic, and had long, blonde hair. The Triforce floated down and joined with the man. The mark of the Triforce appeared on the man's right hand. The man walked up to Link and the others.
"Please, give me the Master Sword and the Shield of Reflections," said the man. His voice was kind and pure. Link handed him the Master Sword, and Zinc gave him the shield.
"Reyon," said Khimena. "So, the cycle has come full circle. This time, however it will be you who is defeated."
"We shall see," said Reyon turning to face Khimena. Khimena charged at Reyon and swung one of his swords. Reyon took a step backwards and knocked the sword out of Khimena's hand, with the Master Sword. Khimena slashed at Reyon with his remaining sword. Reyon blocked the attack and cut into Khimena's shoulder with the Master Sword. Khimena grabbed his shoulder. He pulled his hand back, which was covered in black blood. The wound on Khimena's shoulder was not healing as the one on his leg had.
"You were not this powerful ten millennia ago," said Khimena.
"I did not have the power of the Triforce ten millennia ago," said Reyon. Reyon swung the Master Sword at Khimena. Khimena blocked the attack with his sword, shot a blast of energy with his free hand. The blast hit Reyon, throwing him back. Reyon stood back up.
"It seems you have also grown weaker from your stay in the Realm of Shadows," said Reyon. Khimena slashed at Reyon again. Reyon blocked the attack with the Shield of Reflections. Reyon cut off Khimena's hand, and stabbed the Master Sword into Khimena's stomach. The Triforce began to glow and a beam of light shot through the Master Sword and into Khimena. Khimena's dimension faded and everyone was returned to the Dark Shrine. The Door to the Realm of Shadows opened and chains shot out and wrapped around Khimena's arms and legs. The chains started pulling Khimena back into the Realm of Shadows.
"No!" shouted Khimena. "I won't go back!" Khimena grabbed on to the edges of the door. Reyon shot another beam of light at Khimena. Khimena was hit by the beam and cast back into the Realm of Shadows. The Door to the Realm of Shadows closed and the Evil Keys returned to the locked position. Link walked up to the door, and took out all the Keys. He placed them on one of the tables.
Three streams of light burst trough the ceiling of the room: one red, one blue, and one green. A woman appeared in each of the streams of light.
"We are the Goddesses of Hyrule," said the women in unison. "We thank you heroes for reviving our champion, Reyon, and helping to stop our misguided brother. Reyon, it is time for you to return to the after life."
"Yes, I understand," said Reyon. Reyon walked up to the Goddesses and disappeared. The power of the magic masks and the medallions was restored, the Triforce separated into its three parts, and each part appeared on the back of its respective owner's hand.
"The three of you may have one wish, for protecting the world we hold so dear," said the Goddesses.
Link, Zinc, and Zelda talked it over for a while. When they were done, Link stepped forward. "Zinc and I have never known our real family," he said. "We wish that you would bring our father back to life."
"It shall be done," said the Goddesses. A man with short brown hair and mustache appeared. He had the same blue eyes that Link and Zinc shared.
"Well," said the man. "Who would have thought my sons would give up a wish to have me back." For the first time in their lives, Link and Zinc were able to hug their father. "And Zelda, when you marry Link, you had better take good care of him."
"You know about our wedding?" asked Zelda.
"Of course, I do," said Link's father. "I may have been dead, but I was still watching you all. My son couldn't have any better woman to be his wife. Zinc on the other hand needs a few lessons about picking girls. By the way my name is Tyrian."
"What's wrong with Pike?" asked Zinc.
Tyrian grinned. "I was just messing with you, my boy. Pike's a fine woman once you get passed her personality quirks."
"We must leave now," said the Goddesses. They pointed their hands at the table holding the Dark Keys, and three beams of light hit the keys, causing them to disappear. "We think it is best if they were not left here in the mortal realm." The Goddesses ascended back into the heavens.
"Speaking of leaving," said Link. "We have a wedding to finish." Zelda, Zinc, Link, and Tyrian all exited the Dark shrine.