The Legend of Zelda: The Dream Walker
Chapter 20
"Wildfire"
By MEGAMANX411
Before Link left, he thoguht he should inform Septimus and Meia of his victory over Zazan.
"Oh, by the way..." Link began, turning around to face Meia and Septimus as he did so, "I managed to discover what that stone was."
Meia cocked her head in curiousity.
"What do you mean?" she asked.
Link smirked.
"That stone you gave me literally was a key to the Murgg's fortress. I went in it," he added.
Septimus' eyes widened.
"You attacked the Murgg on their own ground?!" he shouted in disbelief.
Link nodded. "
Yes. At first, things didn't look so good. I got capture by the enemy Murgg," he began.
"You were captured? What then?" Septimus asked, clearly very intrigued with Link's story.
"Well, I was put in a prison cell, right by a man who claimed to a key smith. I managed to escape my cell, and I rescued the man, who helped me proceed further in the Murgg's fortress by unlocking one of the main doors to the central tower," Link added.
"Was this man from Inoa? And what happened next?" Meia asked, Septimus' enthusiasm rubbing off on her.
"Well, I think he's from Inoa, or some other small village nearby, he should've came back before I did if he was from around here," Link replied.
Septimus nodded.
"Well, granted we don't know everyone here, so I think it's more than fair to assume he got back," Septimus answered.
"Anyway," Link continued, "I then went on to face the leader of the Murgg, Zazan."
"The leader of the Murgg?!" Meia and Septimus shouted simultaneously, almost unable to believe what Link just said.
"Yes, I defeated him, and gained two more crests, so I think the Murgg will be less of a threat now," he added.
"That's wonderful news!" Septimus replied, smiling.
"Yes, that's great, that'll make things much easier now," Meia added.
Link nodded.
"Well, I had best be going now, because I don't think we can leave this little volcano problem unchecked," he replied.
"Yes, you had best start your journey. Don't forget the Ice Palace though Link, and remember, stay sharp. Rumor has it that there are strange puzzles to prevent just anyone from entry," Septimus warned.
"Thanks Septimus, I'll be careful," Link replied.
Link left Inoa village to make his way towards the Ice Palace, where he hoped to collect the Ice Rod. As he neared the location Septimus had described to him, he simply couldn't believe what he saw.
"THIS is a palace?" Link muttered, staring at the rather miniscule building before him.
It was perhaps three rooms at best, and was very compact. He shrugged, and entered the small building, and was surprised that it was called a palace. Link noticed that as soon as he entered, it became very cold. He grabbed his body in hopes to raise his body heat.
"It's so freezing in here.." Link observed, his teeth almost close to chattering.
He came to a room, where he saw what he supposed was the Ice Rod on an altar. There was a strange design on the floor in front of him, with specially designed tiles. Link looked down at the tiles, and smirked.
"Hm...fancy craftwork," he observed.
"Stop," a voice commanded.
Link instantly looked around the room to try and see where the voice was coming from.
"Who's there?" he shouted.
"I am the spirit of this palace," the voice replied. "If you desire the Ice Rod, you must undergo a trial. You must guide the breeze!"
Link stood there in disbelief.
"I have to what?" he shouted.
Link thought for a moment. Was there a breeze in the room he somehow had to manipulate? He could barely feel a breeze. How could he trace it's movements? He entered deep thought, and dropped his head a little, and caught sight of the design on the floor again. He noticed that the designs on the tiles had something strange carved onto them. Link looked closer, and narrowed his eyes.
"Patterns of the wind carved onto the tiles...that's it!" he shouted, smiling.
Link saw that the wind was guided by designs on the tiles. He started from the first tile where he started, took one step left, then up, then diagonally right, then up, then left, then up, to follow the proper wind current designs on the tiles.
"You have done well. Now tell me your intentions," the voice commanded.
Link remained quite serious.
"I need the Ice Rod to stop Mount Torla from erupting and killing countless people!" he replied.
"I don't sense false sentiment. You are indeed noble. Take the Ice Rod," the voice replied.
Link gratiously accepted the rod, and muttered a "thank you", despite not knowing whether or not such a spirit had time for trivial things like pleasantries. Link walked outside, his newly acquired Ice Rod in hand. He looked on to see the entrance to Mount Torla, his desired destination.
"OK..I can do this," Link muttered, walking inside the entrance of the volcano.
The cavernous insides were blazing hot, and Link could barely stand the heat.
"Gotta get through here fast!" he shouted.
Link saw that this room was separated by a river of lava, which threatened to incinerate anything upon the slightest touch. Spread across the lava were certain platforms, which seemed to have some stability despite being on top of the molten magma. Even though it was the easiest way to cross, it was by no means easy. Link took a deep breath.
"Focus, focus.." he muttered, keeping his mind calm.
Link leaped to the first platform, and steadied himself so he wouldn't fall. He jumped to the next, and almost lost his footing, but quickly regained his composure.
"Whew...that was close," he sighed.
Link stepped from platform to platform, and reached the next room. Although the room's layout was similar to the one he just crossed, he saw that there was no way to cross the lava pool here.
"Need something to cross...hm?" he observed, noting an object in the distance.
Link noticed a rock next to him.
"I could throw that in and...position it right...got it!" he shouted.
Link slowly picked up the desired rock, and positioned his throwing arch so it would land in the proper spot. A few beads of sweat appeared on Link's forehead, not from heat, but from nervousness.
"I hope this works!" he shouted.
Link threw the rock into the lava pool, and it managed to stay above long enough for Link to use it as a platform to reach the other side! He quickly leaped onto it, and then made haste to the next room.
"Whew...it's really hot in here...I don't think I can stay in here much longer.." he muttered, wiping the sweat from his forehead.
He was so preoccupied with the heat that he didn't notice the obvious obstacle in front of him. Link sighed, and looked up.
"What the?!" he shouted, his jaw dropping.
Link saw a gigantic dragon before him! The creature was entirely massive, appearing perhaps 30 feet tall, and 70 feet in length including the tail, it had simply gargantuan wings, claws, and teeth. It bared its fangs and displayed its power with a massive roar.
"Who are you?" the dragon boomed.
Link gulped, but tried to remain brave in the face of such danger.
"My name is Link. I've come to prevent the volcano from erupting," he explained.
The dragon appeared rather unfazed.
"I am the dragon, Wilda. If you manage to best me in battle, I will deem you the Releaser," Wilda replied.
An enthusiastic smile came on Link's face.
"You have a crest?" he shouted.
Wilda nodded.
"Yes. It shall be yours if you can defeat me! Prepare yourself, mortal!" the dragon challenged, roaring again.
Wilda shot a blast of flame, and Link barely managed to dodge it. The searing would have incinerated Link's flesh, if it weren't for his agility. The dragon rose up, and breathed rancid smoke, causing pain to Link's lungs.
"Augh...need to get on the offensive!" he shouted, reaching into his pack.
Link pulled out his Ice Rod, and with a mere swing of it, a blast of chilling ice was hurled at Wilda. The dragon reared it's head back in pain as its lower jaw becan to subside to the cold, freezing. Wilda exhumed hot steam to try and thaw out the frozen parts, but it proved difficult when Link stayed on the offensive.
Link had the Ice Rod in one hand, and the Master Sword in the other, and he was determined to get the upper hand. Link used a blast of vicious cold to freeze Wilda's claws, and then Link charged at them with his Master Sword ready to strike. He threatened to shatter Wilda's claws.
Wilda became angry, and blasted a wave of heat at Link, knocking him back. Wilda then breathed a giant ball of fire. Link quickly used the Ice Rod to freeze it, and then dodged it, causing ice shards to scatter once they hit the wall. Wilda was too large to avoid them all, and was pierced by several hundred shards of sharp ice.
The dragon lowered its head, clearly not defeated, but wincing to fight off the pain of the many shards of cold ice. The dragon took a deep breath.
"Enough, I admit defeat, Releaser," Wilda began. "You are indeed powerful, Releaser," the dragon added, clearly approving of Link's fighting skill. "And because of your skill and determination, I will reward you with a crest," the dragon continued. "But now I must rest."
Link eagerly accepted the crest, but was perplexed as to what Wilda meant by going to rest.
"What do you mean?" Link asked.
"I have been awake long, since the time of Lars. I must sleep. Goodbye, Releaser," the dragon decreed proudly, shutting its eyes slowly.
As it fell asleep and exhumed its last breaths, the dragon began to freeze, and the volcano was beginning to stabilize.
"Wilda!" Link shouted.
Soon, the dragon was completely covered in ice. With the dragon's last ounce of power, it transported Link outside. Link had Wilda's crest in his hand. He looked back at the volcano.
"Thank you..Wilda.." he muttered, clenching the crest in his hand.
Link quickly made his way back to Inoa to inform the people of what just transpired.
"Hey!" Septimus shouted, waving at Link from the distance.
"Link!" Meia shouted.
"Hi Septimus! Hi Meia!" Link replied, running up to greet them.
"So how did it fare?" Septimus asked.
"I managed to stop the volcano from erupting," Link replied.
"How on earth did you do it, Link?" Septimus asked.
"Well, I got some assistance from someone there," Link replied, smiling a bit in remembrance of the dragon.
"You really did it!" Meia shouted.
Link smiled at Meia.
"And that's not all, I got another crest!" he boasted, raising the crest high.
"Really? That means you only need one more to reach Melzas...." Septimus observed.
Link's gaze hardened.
"Yes," he replied firmly.
Meia placed a hand on Link's shoulder.
"You should probably rest Link, you've had a tiresome day," she offered.
Link nodded.
"I think I will, thanks Meia. I'll see you again in the morning."
Link went off to sleep, and for one of the few times, he managed to sleep without painful dreams. He was closer to avenging Jess, Sybill, and the other villagers, and was preparing to rid the world of that terrible evil. He was winning in the battle against Melzas..or so he assumed. Link was woken up very early in the morning by the sound of someone knocking on the door.
However, Link's fatigue proved to be a bit too serious, so he quickly fell back asleep. A figure then opened the door, and walked up to Link's room.
"Link! Wake up!" the figure shouted.
It was Meia. Link shot up, rubbing his eyes.
"I'm awake! I'm awake! What is it?" he shouted.
Meia looked rather serious.
"Bergus has been kidnapped!" she shouted.
Link thought for a moment.
"Bergus, Bergus...that's Wendell's grandson, right?" he asked.
Meia nodded.
"Yes, the Murgg have kidnapped him," she replied.
Link gritted his teeth.
"Damn...they don't give up...this won't be easy," Link muttered.
Meia noticed that Link was reaching for his sword.
"Wait, I have a plan," she offered. "Follow me to Wendell's house."
"OK," Link replied.
Meia and Link were greeted by Bergus' parents, Meade and Rumi.
"Please Link, save Bergus!" he cried. "You have to help!"
Meia placed a hand on Link's shoulder.
"I've thought of a way to do so easier, Link. You see, Bergus has a twin named Nestus," she observed.
Rumi, the mother, looked rather confused.
"How will that help?" she asked, sounding befuddled.
"Because they are twins, they have similar minds, and their dreams are linked," Meia pointed out. "That means you can enter Nestus' dream here.."
Link caught on.
"And then I can exit Bergus' dream in the Murgg fortress, and therefore bypass all the guards! You're a genius Meia!" Link shouted.
Meia just blushed and chuckled in response.
"OK, let's do it. I'm ready," Link replied.