Chapter 6 - Unyielding Darkness
Zelda's POV:
'He couldn't. He just couldn't leave me again…'
By the time I had lifted my head again, I found myself alone, with only the company of the wind to gently ease my suffering. I didn't know how long I'd been sitting there; my legs had lost all power and will to move. All I could think about was the ghostly image of my beloved's face, how pale he looked, and how he had vanished into thin air leaving nothing in his place. He had only just come back to me and now he was gone again, swept away like a newborn flame on the wind's river of air.
I didn't understand what had happened to him, but I couldn't even begin to ask myself such questions. I knew it would only lead me to a further turmoil, one from which I might never be able to rise from again unless I could find that hand that would smite the darkness and save me from my nightmares.
'Snap out of it Zelda,' I told myself. 'Impa is waiting for you at Death Mountain!' I picked myself up, and hastily brushed away my tears, but no matter how hard I tried I couldn't shake the heavy weight that wrestled with my heart. The wound that I thought had managed to heal when Link first went away seemed to have been torn open again in one violent sweep, amplifying the pain all the more. 'You've got to keep going. You've got to make it to Death Mountain.'
But I never made it to Death Mountain. Before I could progress much further Ganon had caught up with my travels and every night when I was trapped in that dark, dank cell I remembered the terrifying kidnap over and over again. His dark ominous figure had been waiting there in the middle of the clearing, arms crossed over his chest, a wicked smile quickly devouring his lips. I remembered the sudden fear that leaped into my throat and the unheard screams as he lunged toward me, touching my skin with his dirty, blood stained hands. The next thing I knew was that I could hear water dripping coldly to the ground, and a gradual icy freeze creep onto my skin before I recoiled off the hard, uncomfortable floor to meet the eyes of my captor. The yellow orbs glared through the darkness and his white teeth grinned daringly through the murk.
He would come intermittently to check on me; the horrible creak of the door disturbing each moment my eyelids fell shut. Light would filter in from outside, and I could hear the flicker of the flames in the torches hung on the walls. I would shield my eyes from the blinding brightness, for I grew so used to seeing in the dark, I sometimes forgot what it was to see daylight.
But one time, for I knew not whether it was night or day, Ganon's cruel and chilling voice took a new tone from beyond the walls. If I hadn't known better, I wouldn't have been able to detect the fear and dread that haunted his words as he shouted at someone. I buried my head in my knees, not knowing what was happening, and too frightened to even dare look at what would come through the door that led to Ganon's chambers.
It was then that I heard a ghastly and cringing cry penetrate the thick stone walls and the dull thud of something falling on the floor.
"Curse you Link!" Ganon bellowed, chuckling to himself in pain. "You may have defeated me now, but I swear I'll defeat you for I can see the day that Hyrule will once again be mine!"
The one voice I'd come to memorise over the past months was now very weak as he spat out his last words, indistinguishable from where I sat. Then all fell quiet. The mighty beast had been felled… The door, bordered with a yellow frame of light, suddenly cracked open, spilling its golden rays into my vicinity and I looked up, seeing a dark silhouette against an overwhelming array of radiance.
For a brief moment my hope re-lit the long burnt out fire of my heart, and I scrambled to my knees, squinting to identify my saviour. Hoping against all belief I felt my anticipation spill over the borders of my entire body in a messy deluge that made me get up from the floor and stumble toward the bars that separated us. I could see him, and I felt my lips curve into a smile; something I hadn't done for a very long time.
'Was it he? Could it really be him?' I thought wildly. He stepped out of the light and the darkness fell upon his face. Reaching forward with his sword he hammered down on the lock and at once it broke and fell to the floor in a metallic click. And at that moment I too experienced the same sickening drop as that messy spill smothered the rekindled hope as quickly as it had been born.
It wasn't Link. Not my Link…
---
Eventually I did meet Impa at the foothills of Death Mountain after parting ways with this new Link. It was uncanny how similar they looked; yet I knew in my heart that this wasn't the man I loved. This wasn't the same person who was as much a part of me as I was of him…
Our goodbye was brief, and with Ganon temporarily sealed in the Sacred Realm once more, the monsters were slightly less restless and blood thirsty. But I knew that the wind in the air was the beginning of a new crimson stained future, and that we must hurry before the weakened barriers of the heavens would allow Ganon to walk the plains of Hyrule once again. With Link's Triforce of Courage no where to be seen, there was only the power of my Triforce along with the sages to sustain the magical bonds that would seal Ganon away. Even the Master Sword had been lost in the traumatic overthrow of the castle. The Temple of Time had collapsed, burying with it the Master Sword and any hope of ever defeating Ganon permanently.
Once through the caves and passageways that led to northern Hyrule, our journey was much less eventful. Monsters tended to stray away from the footpaths and roads, and the times were a lot safer here than the wild forests of Eastern Hyrule. But with every step I took as we began to near the Northern Palace, I felt my eyes grow weary, and energy drain from my legs.
"What's wrong Princess?" Impa said beside me, her voice filled with concern.
"I think I'm just tired…That's all." I said exhausted. Impa was silent for a moment before speaking again, this time in a much more hushed tone.
"You don't think it's - "
"No, I'm just tired. I'll rest once we get to the Palace. It's only a little farther." I said interrupting her.
"Why don't we stop and rest here for a while? It would be better for the both of you." She said, a small smile gracing her old lips. My eyes widened in response and I felt my cheeks flush slightly. Walking faster, I declined her offer. Impa's old age must be affecting her more than I thought… As a sage she was immortal when residing in the Sacred Realm, but when she heard of the trouble in Hyrule, she took on her mortal form to help me, and as a mortal, she had begun ageing again…
I could see the castle now looming proudly in the middle of the lake; it's white walls glistening in the sunlight. My father had taken me here many times as a child, and I could still remember the carefree summer mornings when I would run through the flower gardens in the courtyards. The towers still stood tall against the midday sky and they sadly reminded me of my own home, now burnt to the ground and smouldering in ashes.
But that strange drowsiness still sapped away my energy, and suddenly in one repulsive wash, I sunk into a dark depth of cold sleep, the last thing I remember being the shouts and cries of Impa fading away under a new voice of fearful chills.
"Greetings Princess." I felt his cruel stare in the back of my head, and my voice became paralysed by the sheer sound of his words. "The walls of your fortress are slowly breaking," he said grinning viciously. "You didn't think you'd be able to keep me gone for good did you princess?"
I clutched my head in agony, wincing at each horrible word he spoke. "You'll never win Ganon!" I said, my words, to my disgrace, coming out as barely a whisper.
"Ha!" his deep voice spat in disgust. "Do you really think yourself so mighty princess? Without your Hero of Time you are nothing, a fly waiting to be killed by my hand! Mark my words princess, Hyrule will be mine!" His cackling laughter deafened my senses and no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't block out his magic that was sweeping through my body like an infectious disease. I was lost in this sea of darkness, reduced to nothing in this black void, and to my utter shame, I realised that Ganon was indeed correct…
Link's POV:
The blinding flash that veiled my eyes was abruptly torn away and I opened my eyes again to find myself staring at a floor that held the night stars in neat shining squares. The dark midnight blue stones, speckled with white covered the entire floor as I straightened myself up.
'Where am I now?' I thought to myself as I peered around the massive chamber. The room was so large that I couldn't even see to the very ends for the darkness shrouded the true capacity of the place. Attached to tall, magnificent pillars were torches that lit a dim circle around the area where I sat. As I gazed in awe at the majesty of the room, my eyes fell upon a small pedestal in the centre, where small steps covered in a scarlet red carpet led up to an altar of some sort. Candles were placed at each corner, their flames dancing brilliantly over a white cloth that…
Suddenly I heard a footstep echo through the air. "Who's there?" an elderly voice called sternly. "Who dares to trespass in such a forbidden chamber?" The voice was becoming louder and as I sat motionless I could see a faint blur of light slowly emerge from the darkness. The fire of the lamp illuminated a tall but hunched over woman clad in a long grey cloak, her long white hair falling well past her shoulders. She didn't look as if she would pose a threat, but I kept my hand on the hilt of my sword that was still clasped tightly in my gauntlet from before.
I stood up once I saw her more clearly and bowed in respect. "I'm sorry, I didn't know that I wasn't meant to be here." As I ended a loud clang emanated all around me and I snapped my head up in shock and pulled out my sword.
The lamp rolled toward my feet and I picked it up, about to hand it back to the old woman when I saw the fear and surprise in her eyes. "Who are you?" she said, her hands shaking over her heart. "You're a ghost aren't you? A ghost coming to play tricks on old Impa!" Her eyes narrowed and the cloak slipped from her shoulders revealing a much younger looking body, her muscles still toned well from battles. "Get out!" she said raising her voice.
"I-Impa?" I stammered. "Impa it's me, Link!" For a moment it seemed as though she'd believed me. Her eyes softened and she relaxed for the briefest of moments, but the mistrust quickly regained control of her actions.
"Be gone you wretched ghost!" Impa shouted as she threw a very well aimed Deku Nut right at my feet, causing me to fall over backward from the burst of light. I rubbed my eyes and stood up again. I didn't want to use my sword against her no matter what she tried to harm me with… "Why aren't you stunned?" she said quickly, her eyes showing her confusion.
"I'm not a ghost!" I said sheathing my sword.
She stared at me for a moment, scrutinising every inch of my body, much to my discomfort. Her eyes suddenly widened, and her hand slapped her cheek softly. "Goddesses, it really is you!" A stern look returned to her face, her thin white eyebrows furrowed. She rushed forward and took my hand. "Thank providence you're here! The princess is in trouble! Quickly now, come with me," she said hastily.
"What's happened to Zelda?" I asked, worry filling my thoughts. Did something happen to her in the forest? Did more Lynels attack her? Hundreds of questions rushed through my head, some finishing before they even started, but I couldn't shake them away, and Impa didn't answer my question. She only sighed and cast her eyes away.
"Ever since you left, terrible things have happened." She suddenly stopped walking and looked deeply into my eyes. "The princess has been so worried about you. I thought all hope was lost when I heard that she'd been captured by Ganon, but a brave youth saved her from his clutches."
"She what?" I said. "When did this happen?"
"According to Zelda, you came back to her, only to disappear. Am I correct?" she said avoiding my question. That wretch must have caught her after I left her… I felt anger seethe through my veins, and frustrated looked down to the floor, my hands clenched into tight fists.
"Yes," I muttered. "I couldn't save her…I wasn't there to help her," I said quietly, half mumbling to myself.
"Well perhaps you could help her now." Impa said as she continued up the carpeted steps to the altar. A large lump sat at the back of my mouth as she gently peeled back the white cloth to reveal a beautiful young woman, long locks of blonde hair rippling from her ivory face in sunlit curls and waves. Her hands lay across her stomach, as motionless and still as the pillars towering around her.
"Zelda," I whispered as I joined Impa at her side and knelt down on the floor. My chest rested sharply upon the edge of the stone slab and I gently touched her cold cheek with the back of my hand. Her skin was still as soft as the most tender flower petals and the look upon her face was still that of the princess I'd seen only what seemed like moments ago.
But then I quickly realised that although it might be only minutes for myself, it must have been weeks, maybe months that had passed in between these two moments. The subdued anger suddenly rose up again like a storm inside my heart.
"First she waited seven years, and now this…" I mumbled. But as soon as the words had left my mouth, my eyes widened from what I'd said. Those seven years kept coming back into my subconscious…those very first dreams… What was this life that I'd forgotten? How could I not remember what happened?
"What did you say?" Impa said curiously. She stepped closer to me, peering right into my face. "Not even the princess remembers what happened in those dark times. How is it that you do?" she said darkly.
"I-I don't know," I said nervously.
"Tell me Link, tell me what brings you here, even though you're supposed to be dead to the world." She said withdrawing herself slightly. Her eyes were still narrowed, and a frown knitted her eyebrows in a hard, unrelenting cold knot. I swallowed nervously, and slowly began my strange tale. Perhaps she would be able to help my find my answers and guide me in the right direction…
"I suppose it all started when I had these dreams."
"Go on," she said.
"Well, I dreamt I was this warrior fighting to save Hyrule from Ganon's evil reign. I remember fighting him, with all the memories and feelings of this warrior becoming a part of myself, and I can still remember them now." Impa nodded and beckoned me to continue. "It was then that these weird…time lapses began happening. I found myself riding far away from Hyrule, the Triforce crest broken on my hand."
"That was when you set off in search of your friend. No one ever saw you after that day, until now," she said pausing. "You said the Triforce broke, you mean it didn't appear on your hand?" I shook my head. "Ah, who was to know that only Hyrule could contain the three thirds of the holy triangle…" I looked at her quizzically. "Let me explain Link. I presume you know that when Gannondorf touched the sacred Triforce it split into three pieces." I nodded my head uncertainly, knowing that somehow she was right. "And you also know that Ganonndorf, Princess Zelda and yourself each carry one third of that Triforce" I nodded again. "The power of the two remaining Triforce pieces in our world along with the power of the sages are what kept Ganon sealed away in the Sacred Realm.
"For almost ten years Hyrule saw its Golden Age of prosperity and peace. Ganon's evil magic was trapped along with him in his prison and nothing could alter those forces that bound him there. But when you left Hyrule, it seems you broke that power, leaving only one Triforce to bear the weight of two, and with a weakened force to seal Ganon away, he overpowered the sages and broke free of the Sacred Realm. With each step you took away from the castle, the bonds between the two Triforces must have become weaker and weaker, loosening the restraints that held Ganon back. And when you finally crossed that border they must have been severed completely, causing your Triforce to break apart and be scattered all over Hyrule until another worthy hero would step forth and save Hyrule, with the courage found in the collected shards."
I stared in wonder at her, suddenly remembering what Zelda had said to me that morning in my chamber, her words echoing that of Impa's.
'All this happened because of me… How many people have I caused to suffer because of my actions? All I was concerned with was finding Navi…' I felt sick and rotten to the core of my heart, tears pricking at my eyelids. But I refused to let them fall. Despite being a terrible and utterly selfish person, I knew I needed to put right my ugly mistakes in the only way I knew possible…
"Impa, please tell what I should do." I asked.
"In due time Link. Tell me more about these time lapses you mentioned before." She said, insisting on learning everything I had to say.
"Well, it was soon after I started having those dreams, when suddenly everything would change. Images from a different time would merge with the present and sometimes Zelda and I were caught in those different times, only to wake up again in our own," I said pausing. "There's nothing more I can really tell you." She didn't reply for a moment, her eyes deep in thought while staring at the silent figure beside her.
"It would seem that time has been disrupted," she said very quietly. She turned her head away from Zelda's sleeping face to look at me again. "Link, you are the Hero of Time, the legendary hero who slew Ganon after seven years of his tyranny," she said very seriously. "The three goddesses chose you then, and I believe they have still chosen you to be Hyrule's saviour. First and foremost you must reform the Triforce of Courage. Without that Ganon will never be beaten, even by you." She placed her hands on my shoulders firmly.
"Link, you must listen very carefully to what I am about to say. When the princess and yourself sealed Ganon away, Zelda sent you back in time so you could live those seven lost years of your life. But she rewound time for the entire country as well. This way, the damage that Ganon dealt could be reversed and Ganon himself would be harmless, as the Sacred Realm is a place affected by neither time nor space. Because Zelda sent you back in time, those memories of your adulthood were not yet meant to be uncovered, as you were still only a child, so they were partially erased from your subconscious. Now you're an adult, those memories are beginning to unearth themselves from your mind, and this might be why they're appearing as dreams." She paused once more and withdrew her heavy hands from my shoulders.
She breathed deeply, her white hair shivering as she moved. "It would also seem that somehow time has been torn and severed, allowing you to fall into a time such as this. The only explanation I can offer you is that while you were searching for the sages, your time travel disrupted the flow of time, and maybe when Zelda performed such a large scale time travel is was disrupted even further. But time is a very delicate object and one must keep it in balance. When you finally grew up in those seven years, it must have evened the disruption. However when these dreams began appearing, from a time of the past, it must have caused time to split as you and the princess were living in two different times."
"But then that would mean that this world isn't the same one from my time," I said. "After I'd dreamt of leaving Hyrule and woke up in my own time, Ganon suddenly rose then. This can't be the same future that my Hyrule holds…"
"That may be true, but history was not meant to slip in between two times. I believe our world must be the future of your Hyrule, had the time slips not have happened… This would be the path of time had it not been disrupted," she said.
"Then what became of the Hyrule I left when I came here?"
"That I cannot answer," she said. "But now you know. Perhaps when the time comes at the end of all this, you can change Hyrule's fate for the better. After all, for you the future has still to come. For Zelda, the future has already passed. Your princess must be out there somewhere, and I'm sure that when your journey is over and you return to your own world, you'll find her."
AN: Thank you to everyone who reviewed! As pointed out by MidnightStarfire, I don't think I'm allowed to reply to everyone's review anymore otherwise they might take down my story, so I'm just saying one big thank you here. I hope this chapter has explained my confusing plot a little better. If anyone's still confused, say what you need explaining in a review and I'll try and e-mail you the answer rather than risk my story being removed. Also, from now until the end of June I have very, very, VERY important exams, so updating will be rather slow.