Isa: Hillo again people! Sorry this has taken me a few days to update. I have been lazy. XP hope you enjoy!
Chapter Five
"Halt! Halt! If you value your life!" a gruff female called out as the Sages, Navi, and Link, rushed up a beginning flight of stairs. Three gruedo guards followed closely behind, swinging large samurai type swords over their heads. Link lugged at the rear and when they had reached the flat portion of the stairs he stopped and turned.
A gruedo slashed downward and Link leaned back and brought his sword up, serving the gruedo's arm from her shoulder. She jerked back in pain and a second purser cut sideways hitting Link painfully in his broken rib cage. He screamed and dropped to one knee and swung his sword to right, the blade imbedding itself into his attacker's leg. She tripped and Link rolled out of the way as a third sword clashed on the ground beside him. He brought his good leg up and smacked the third gruedo in the head knocking her off balance and he took the blunt end of the Master Sword and hit her on the back.
"Link!" Ruto shrieked and ran back and hoisted Link to his feet. Link squeezed his eyes shut and leaned on Ruto for support.
"They cut you pretty bad." The Zora Princess observed and Link panted as the wound in his side was reopened. Somewhere down the cavern they could hear more Gruedo voices coming up fast and Ruto forced Link up the stairs. Navi circled about Link's head.
"I don't care how much you protest I'm healing you when I get the chance!" she screamed and Link nodded, too weak and preoccupied with running away to protest.
The group continued to head up the stairs when they herd the guards chasing them yell in surprise.
"Who-" a voice started and another cut her off,
"It's ok, he is Ganon's servant." There was a pause and Link glanced behind him as he herd the voice of a young man that sounded very familiar.
"Where are they?" he asked.
"Up that path there, they have killed one of our own."
The male voice continued, "I expected as much. Call off your chase and report back to your posts. I'll take them from here."
Link's eyes widened as he herd the retreating of footsteps and the unsheathing of a sword. Leather boots patted against the stone floor and was steadily coming towards them.
"Run." Link told the sages through clenched teeth; "I'm staying here. You run."
"But-" Ruto protested and Link shoved her forward. "Go!" he shouted and Ruto ran up the stairs to catch up with the others. Link leaned against the wall, the blood from a new wound on his head leaked into his eyes. He blinked and brushed it away on his sleeve and wrapped sweaty fingers around the hilt of the Master Sword. The footsteps were calm and casual and they slowly climbed up the stairs.
Soon, the Hero of Time could make out the silhouette of a tall figure on the wall, and eventually the rapid humming of his opponents power sword bursting into blue fire reached his ears.
"Hurry up!" Link yelled down the stairs, "come on! let's get this over with!"
A cold laugh sent a chill up his spine that sliced through all of the pain and it's effects took a greater toll on the Hylain's body more then anything else. Dark Link stepped up the stairs and Link narrowed his eyes at the sight of his dark half.
"I thought I killed you in the Water Temple." he muttered. Dark Link smiled, his face illuminated by the blue fire that circled around his blade.
"I thought so too." he mused, "but Ganondorf decided to give me another chance. So...here I am."
Link coughed once and began to summon the flame of his sword as well, but it was the weaker blue for that was all he could muster. Dark Link smiled wider and his blue fire changed to a bright orange.
"But I have to admit that I would like to take my revenge when you were fully rested and healthy. All I would be doing now is putting you out of your misery."
Link closed his mouth and breathed through his nose, his sides heaving with effort.
"But..." Dark Link continued, "a kill is a kill I suppose, and despite your injuries you will fight to the last breath, as you would any other battle."
Link nodded. "That's right. I'm not giving up."
"Good. If I can't take you out starting at the beginning then I want the best you can manage."
Link charged forward and Dark Link leaned to the side and shoved his iron shield into Link's back. The Hero of Time yelped and fell flat on his face, unable to get up. Dark Link rolled his eyes and reached downward, pulling his light half to his feet.
"Pathetic. Truly pathetic." He shook his head back and forth and Link swung his sword across his chest, attempting to stab Dark Link in the side. The Shadow Warrior stepped sideways, easily avoiding the blow and twisting Link's right arm behind his own back. He gritted his teeth and jerked his shoulder forward, Dark Link stumbled and his sudden weight sent Link hurtling towards the ground, his dark half on top of him.
"What is this?" Dark Link asked scornfully, "a duel or a wrestling match!?"
Link shoved his elbow in Dark Link's shoulder and both boys yelped in pain. Dark Link grabbed his opponent by the shoulder and threw him into the near by wall. Link grunted and struggled to his feet, but Dark Link kicked him back down.
"Get up!" he roared, "get up and fight."
Link stared at him, one eye shut and his sword arm was pressed against his side. He leaned forward, extending the Master sword out, but the action sent a slicing pain up his biceps and forearm. The weapon fell to the floor, the blue fire fading.
"Are you giving up?" Dark Link asked, truly surprised. Link didn't answer, he only lay on his knees, panting.
"You are giving up! Ha! Never thought I'd see the day!" Dark Link twirled his flaming sword in his hands and pointed downward, the tip barely touching Link's back.
"Any last words?" he asked and Link clenched his hands into fists.
"Yeah, yeah I do." he said and Dark Link raised an eyebrow.
"What are they?"
Link smiled up at his dark, his blue eyes twinkling with mischief and cockiness.
"Eat embers lug, Din's Fire!" Flames licked up the side of Link's body and flowed to his hands, until his entire figure was covered in the smothering heat. Dark Link stepped back and Link jumped to his feet, the Goddess' magic giving him strength. With a loud war cry he let the fire leave his body and it ran to all corners of the cavern hitting Dark Link square in the chest.
He screamed and waved his arms franticly about as the fire danced around his skin, eating away at his tunic. Link laughed and leaned against the wall. His dark half ran up the stairs and slammed into a wall, then rolled back down still screaming as the flames engulfed him.
Link winced at the sight as he laughed and took the Master Sword in his hand and skipped down the tunnel as fast as he could to escape. Dark Link's screams ringing in his ears all the while.
Saria gasped as a flash of wavering light lit the dark hallway with a loud crack that split the air in two. Screams erupted into the passage and Saria turned around.
"That sounds like Link! Link!!!!!" the forest sage rushed down the stairs attempting to aid the Hero of Time but Impa held her back with a firm hand.
"Is that Link?" Ruto asked not quite sure. Suddenly the screams stopped and the tearing of fabric pierced their ears. Sounds of boots stomping viciously on the ground echoed off the walls and the same person screamed again.
"OHHHHH! YOU'LL PAY FOR THAT LINK!"
Nabooru blinked and started to walk back up the stairs, "I...don't think so."
"CRUSE YOU LINK OF THE TRIFORCE!!!!!!! I'LL HAVE YOUR HEAD ON A PLATTER!!!!!!"
"That ladies and gentlemen, would be our cue." The Spirit Sage sighed and the group continued to run up the stairs. Navi's wings beated rapidly against her back and a trail of white and blue light floated behind her.
"But what about Link?" she whined.
"He's a big lad." Rauru replied, still running, "he can take care of himself."
"But he's hurt! We should go back to see if he's ok." The sprite protested and Ruto glanced up.
"He wanted us to run and that's what we're gonna do. The question should be is, where are we running to?"
"There." Nabooru stated simply as she pointed to a large wooden latter that extended into a ceiling above.
"Where does it lead?" Rauru wanted to know. Impa walked up to it and gazed at the ceiling. She narrowed her eyes and spoke.
"It is too dark to tell. We'll just have to take our chances and climb."
Saria rubbed her shoulders from the sudden draft that wizzed down the cavern. "Well, it's better then standing around here waiting for Ganondorf to show up." Impa nodded and Ruto stepped forward grabbing hold of the latter and starting to climb with the other sages following suit.
Zelda pulled back, tying the sheet into a perfectly tight knot, linking it with another five or so. She stared out the window, the ground seemed such a long distance away and she gripped the rope that she had made and sighed.
"This is so typical. Tying sheets together and then wrapping it around the bedpost while I shimmy down. But I can't use my magic and run the risk of that...other Link finding out. So, hear it goes." She took in a deep breath and cast the sheets out the window. The Princess leaned forward to get a good look and much to her horror the blankets didn't even nearly touch the ground.
Zelda franticly looked around the room to find something to lengthen her chain but alas there was nothing. She had already used all the comforters of her bed and the drapes as well. on." Zelda bit her lower lip as she bounced up and down, her gaze scanning the room for materials. Her search brought her to spy upon the two doors and an absurd spark of hope burned inside of her.
She made her way to the knobs and turned them to the right then to the left, but they did not budge. The Princess twisted them furiously and kicked the door in frustration, then inhaled deeply.
"Well duh, you should have known he'd lock the doors." Zelda pressed her back against the wall and let her body slide to the floor. It all seemed so hopeless. She would never escape and Hyrule would be in the hands of the King of Evil forever. The Princess and her people would all become his slaves and jesters, and there would be no one to save them this time.
If only Link was here....He'd figure something out. Zelda pulled her knees in close to her and buried her face into them. A slight tear rolled down her cheek and she cried in sure frustration and defeat. There was a light tap at the door and Zelda jumped to her feet and ran to the window. She threw the blanket chain outside and it drifted to the ground, all fifty feet.
"My lady? Princess Zelda are you in there?" a female voice asked soothingly and Zelda was confused. Outside she could hear the fall of footsteps and the rattling of keys. There was a slight click and the doors swung open. Zelda bit her lip harder.
In the doorway stood two Gruedo guards, one the very same ones that had escorted her to Ganon's throne room. The first one smiled warmly, but Zelda couldn't tell by the thick violet bandanna she wore around her face.
"Come my Princess, your escape is neigh."
"Who are you?" Zelda asked, suspicious.
"I am called Nakia, and this is my friend Inyushi." The Gruedo explained gesturing towards her companion, "please we only wish to help you."
"I can't trust you!" Zelda shouted, "you work for Ganondorf."
Nakia's eyes became mournful. "Please let me explain. Ganondorf was made a ruler over our people because he was the first male to be born to our culture in over one hundred years. There has been a prophecy that tells of a male Gruedo leading our tribe and bringing us great wealth. Well, that he did. Our people being thieves as you would call us, he led many charges against our enemies and brought us back many valuables. Many praised him, but the one called Nabooru always despised her brother and protested against his rein. Well one day Ganon left us, and a few months later we found out that he was made an adviser to the King of Hyrule. I don't know what happened to him when he dwelled within your palace, but he became obsessed with power, even the power of the Goddesses and he searched for it.
Now all of a sudden he has this power, he calls it...a Triforce, and he destroyed our world as well as yours. He enslaved his own people and we can not refuse him, least he should behead us. But I can not sit back and watch him kill any further. I am not strong enough to stop him, none of us are. But perhaps you can. You and the Hero of Time. We only wish to help."
Zelda pondered the Gruedo's words and concluded that it made sense. Still this could be some kind of trap set by Ganondorf and she had to be careful. What else could she do? Sit around in this room and watch her people suffer more? Of course not, so the Princess nodded and shook Nakia's hand.
"I am grateful for your help. But tell me, where is the Hero of Time?"
Inyushi spoke now. "We are not certain. He and the other sages have escaped and are said to be in the Underground Tunnels. Ganon's servant went to retrieve him and we haven't heard anything new sense."
The spark of hope bubbled inside Zelda again. The hope that Link could still be alive, and if he was traveling with the sages then he would be in good hands.
Nakia took Zelda's hand and started to lead her off down the hall.
"Come my lady, we will find you a Gruedo's dress and you shall pass off as a guard until we can get you safely out of the palace."
Zelda nodded. "I am forever in your debt."
Nakia and Inyushi bowed. "No, Princess. We are in yours."