Legends of the Waker: Remnants of Old
Chapter XII: Whispers of the Past
-Laruto
"Laruto! Wake up! Please!"
I blinked and opened my eyes, and immediately rain struck them. I could see shadows of strange, round creatures flying through the air all around the boat. Medli was standing over me, a worried, pained look in her eyes. Lightning and thunder flashed and boomed, as the boat swung across the choppy Sea.
All at once, she began to babble. "LarutoIdontknowwhattodowearesurrondedbyalotofweirdflyingthings."
"Hold on. Slow down. Those things are…"
Seahat.
"…Seahats." The creatures were six feet tall, egg-shaped, with gash-like, tooth-filled mouths and odd propeller like wings crowning its head. Opposite end of the too-small wings were a bunch of spikes resembling a beard. One charged suddenly and slammed into the side of the boat.
Medli whimpered as a splinter could be heard over the striking boom of thunder. Another three came after the first and the boat was soon groaning loudly. I had no idea what to do. I would be fine deep underwater but I couldn't abandon Medli.
Then lightning flashed, and off in the distance two massive towers of islands could be seen. Another crash came, powerful enough to send Medli flying. I reached out and grabbed her wing almost too late and pulled her back.
"The boat's not going to make it!" We've got to swim for that island!"
"I can't swim!"
In a blur of events everything after that seemed to rush together like smeared ink on paper. I leapt for the water just as the boat exploded, sending fragments of wood here and there. I fell under the surface and could see a constant downpour of rain pounding the water above, seeming to stop short of hitting me and every time blending in to the waves.
Back in my world, I easily spun around and in slow, graceful spins flew towards the
tall island. I pulled myself out of the water and as if struck by thunder I remembered Medli. Lightning flashed and I could the last of our boat sinking in the distance. Seahats soared all over the water around it, probing the water every now and then as if looking for their lost prey. I called Medli's name and the answer came where I least expected it.
"Where have you been? I've been waiting and waiting." The bird girl walked from behind one of the nearby bushes and only then did I turn towards the island. I looked up and for a moment couldn't see a thing. Then lightning flashed again and I saw a massive shape, like a hollowed stump, stretch far above. A small bit of land jutted from this, containing a few narrow strips of plant covered ground and what sounded like a waterfall.
What I caught out of the corner of my eye caught my attention much stronger. An equally imposing, thorn covered island was just across from this one, but it was barely open at all, and reminded me of a terrible fortress I'd seen miles from home when I was very young.
"Keese." I whispered softly.
"What now?" Medli asked, fear crawling on her words.
"We…go in." I rasped, indicating the stump-like tower.
After a few moments we were waist deep in the cleanest water I'd ever felt. The bruises of the journey seemed to melt as we walked in the cavernous, sky-exposed grotto. I could hear bushes rustle and odd giggles as we walked, and could swear I saw a stubby brown limb twice. The whole room was centered on what appeared to be a enormous tree, but I'd never seen a tree more than twice the height of a Zora. This one stretched towards the opening of the cave.
As we approached the front of the tree I was surprised to see an intricate face carved on it, and wondered if the sculptor might still be around. Both of us screamed in shock when it spoke in a voice much like Jabun's, but far more rumbling.
"To what do I owe the honor of two young sages coming to call? Has the king sent you to bring me word? Is something amiss?"
We said nothing. We were too shocked.
"What? Moblin steal your brain? Speak!"
I finally found my wits and spoke. "I was named a sage by Jabun and sent on a mission south to Headstone. The Evil One has plans for the Master Sword, so I go there to protect it. I also bring worse tidings. Ganondorf struck my people. Very few remain." I looked at him fiercely, daring him to attempt comfort for the fresh wound.
"I am deeply sorrowed. I have not felt this mournful since Fado died. It has been centuries since I sent little Fado to his death."
The name struck a distant memory. "Who?"
Chapter XIII: The Cursed King
-Link
The man floated before me, exuding hatred and deeper still, a terrible, draining sorrow. The skull mask on his face had two horns, open holes revealing red irises, and a slim mouth hole that made his words echo. Then now familiar whisper came to me.
The King of Helmacron- Ganon's Cursed Servant
"YOU!" He bellowed suddenly, and it was all I could do not to start. "This day is your death, Link Hero of Time. Ganon wiped my people out ages ago, and I bound myself to him to weaken his power. Now I must do his bidding. . .I have found I enjoy it."
Without further word, he struck, drawing a broad black steel ax. I soared upward from the boat with sword in hand, sky and sea spinning, tower a horizontal bar as I stopped for a moment.
Then he attacked, but not with the ax. A blast of black lightning struck me full in the face and I went flying backward towards the arches. I caught myself just short of a broken bone and swung forward just as he hit again. This time I struck the water. The world flipped as I sunk under, and for a moment I was struck dizzy. Then I waited for a moment and soared from the water, tucked in a cannonball, spinning end over end. I unwound and struck in midair, drawing first blood on his forearm and a foreign curse. I prepared to strike again when lightning flew. This time I was sent tumbling end over end.
Sky and water swirled together and I couldn't tell up from down. I flew up towards the sea, clouds at my feet and decided to fight fire with fire.
"Two can do this dance." As I rocketed towards Helmacron, I put my right fist forward. The Triforce emerged and a beam of solid golden light shot forth, striking the king dead in the face, shattering his mask. He floated there, clutching at the burns, and then after a moment turned and spoke, stopping me cold with a voice far more terrible than his own. Borokai's.
"You. Again. Don't you ever sleep?" Then Ganondorf turned his attention towards the king. "You failed me. You think you were cursed before? Try THIS you pathetic failure"
Then the Helmacron King began to change. His boots fell apart as talons forced themselves out. His arms stretched and stretched, growing flatter all the while. Nose and mouth melted and became one, then turned a bright yellow. And while all this happened, he grew, at first a near diminutive five feet, he was now seven, now nine, stopping at about twelve. Last of all his mask reformed, shattered pieces coming upward and resettling, cracks vanishing as they were formed.
Soon floating before me was a massive, broad-chested raptor. The enormous bird of prey let out a keening wail and swooped after me.
I soared upward, flying in a wide arc over the bird, and came down, spinning end over end twice before coming sword down straight into the bird. He twisted suddenly as I came down and flew away, then dove at me as I rushed by and slammed into me with his skull mask. Stars swung across my vision but I pulled together fast and ducked down, preparing to slash his chest open.
Before I could react, a talon ripped across my face. Red filled my eyes as blood made a mask on my face. Before I knew it I was falling down. Water filled my sight and I plunged under.
Inky red clouds floated through the water around me. For one moment, I thought I could drift under forever, but then a flash of images came. Zelda and Tetra, the islanders, Meena, and everyone else I'd met. Everyone on the Sea depended on my strength.
Water exploded around me as I plunged upward. Helmacron had been waiting. He dashed at me as I surfaced and I flew backward. I stopped in midair and charged forward, flying up as if standing, and hauled my sword behind me across his side, drawing a long, red gash. The king snorted angrily and tucked his wings, coming after me like a feathered arrow.
I went up as well we flew spiraling apart from each other and soon we were near the top of the tower. Blood and feathers were now covering the surface of the water. Both of us floated there for a moment, waiting. Finally, I moved, knowing my cloak would soon fail me.
Twisting over and over, I shot up above him and for a moment my feet were in the sky, then I came down holding my sword before me. A black mist surrounded me and I was so stunned at falling right through the bird I didn't right away realize I couldn't fly anymore.
The arches loomed close and I tried to pull out. I closed my eyes, awaiting the crush of broken bones. All my breath whooshed out as I gasped at the pain of hitting the stone. But when I flopped over and saw the King descending on me, I knew nothing had broken.
Calm washed over me and every nerve settled, as Helmacron, confidant now in victory, swooped down for his prey. I lifted my hand and the Triforce began to glow, but no beam came forth. Instead the bird simply vanished. A golden outline hung where he'd been, falling about as golden powder.
Victorious, I turned my head to the tower as a growing storm bathed the area in shadow. My hand went up to my face and I winced, feeling three long scars across my face. But they had long stopped bleeding. Another gift from the Triforce, I knew. I found my gaze drifting to the entryway of the Tower.
"You must go to the Tower of the gods to prove yourself."
Chapter XIV: Driftwood
-Fado
A single eye popped open and blinding sun burst in. I turned away and opened both. I was lying on my side, water coming to my waist, leaving the rest in soggy sand. The shield sat a few feet ahead, and Holly was curled on top, fast asleep. My cello and sword, I soon saw, were also intact. I stood up then fell over, knees hitting the sand, horribly stiff. I looked up and saw a tall volcano with a ring of smoke around it, and felt a well-known whisper in my ear.
Death Mountain. But this time, when the whisper stopped, everything melted away and a storm of white took my vision. I found myself standing in a small, quiet village, a windmill spinning lazily on a nearby hill. Death Mountain stood in the distance, still imposing, still haloed by smoke. And then I realized there was no sea, no sea anywhere. This was the time before the second War. I'd been born before the time of islands, but had only vague memories, and couldn't place the exact time.
Soon everything was rushing away as if I was moving backward at an impossible pace. When I stopped I was in Kokiri Village, and felt an overwhelming homesickness for my early years. A blinding light issued from the tallest of the houses and a boy walked out, one who could only be the Hero of Time. The boy, whose small height seemed incongruous with the obvious power he held, spoke.
"He will come back to you. Find the old one." Then a storm of white and I was on my knees, on a sandy beach, staring up at a mountain whose name I couldn't for some reason recall.
Suddenly a blur of wind rushed by on either side. I stood and swept my hand back to my sword, gripping the hilt tight.
"You'll die before your sword ever leaves your scabbard, forest boy. I suggest not drawing it."
I Let my hand fall casually and grinned, as if I'd merely been planning to scratch my neck, and turned slowly. Two bird men, odd people fully bird like, but standing like Hyleans, or Kokiri were before me, one on the left, one on the right. The one on the left had spoken last. "Wouldn't dream of harming a feather on your head, Mister Bird. We are on our way to a distant island and lost our way.
"It's Mister Rito, not 'mister bird', Fairy man," the one on the right said.
"And it's Kokiri, not 'forest boy' or 'fairy man,'" I responded.
"We'd best take him to the chief, Yatalaa," Lefty suggested.
"The who?" I asked.
"Chief Komalu. I think you're right, Lerwng. 'Kokiri', grab your shield and onion, and come with us. Oh, and welcome to Dragon Roost, home of the Rito."
"…My what?"
"Whatever that thing is. The chief knows you're here. We mustn't make him wait. He doesn't like that.
The two led us up a long path and into the inner chambers of the not only inactive, but also seemingly completely hollow mountain. Holly awoke and perched wordlessly on my shoulder, staring upward at the massive hall, spiraling upward. The chamber was full of rough rock that looked unused. Rito bustled here and there, moving bags full of little scraps of paper I recognized as mail. We were brought and into a small room off the center, where a tall, regally dresses Rito was speaking with three others. But he and a short, plump Rito wearing glasses were lost as soon as I saw the third. There was no doubt in my mind. That one had to be a sage.
"Two pieces of driftwood for you, Chief." Lerwng said with an odd straightening of his wings. I realized when Yatalaa did so as well that it was a salute.
"Very well. Thank you. You may go back to patrol," the well-dressed Chief Komalu said. "I am Chief Komalu. What business have you on Dragon Roost Island?"
"Fado. And this is Holly. As to business, none, actually," I said, my comment bringing raised eyebrows. "Our boat was destroyed and we seek a way to Gale Island. Also, we…lost a friend when we were shipwrecked. We must find him." Holly gasped almost inaudibly, but said nothing.
"The hospitality of the Ritos is yours, for now. You may stay until a merchant ship comes. You can get passage to Windfall Island from there. Pwog, give them a place to stay in the storerooms. As to your friend, I will send out patrols, but don't cling to long to hope."
The short Rito was about to step forward when the sage spoke up. "I would be happy to do so, Komalu," he spoke in a calm but commanding voice, the only person I'd heard call the chief by name alone. I decided I would do the same.
Komalu looked briefly surprised but covered it before speaking. "Very well. Move along."
"Thank you, Komalu. We are very grateful."
We left the room in tow of the old Rito. "So, Sage Kokiri, what is your business at the old Temple of Winds?"
"Ganondorf is trying to gain footholds into this world by weakening the Master Sword. I and my two friends were sent by the Great Deku Tree to stop it."
"Most interesting. You don't need a boat, though, to leave."
"Why not?"
"Because I'm going to teach you something that will change everything. Your onion may not come, but she will find ingredients for many new concoctions in the kitchen."
"What are you going to teach me?"
"How to fly."
Chapter XV: The Gadgetician
-Laruto
See the Hero fall…
…Crashing through the roof of the tower, now a man broken
See the Evil One come at him, raising the sword the Hero had taken from him
…Thrusting downward, striking at his heart…
"LINK!" I screamed and reached for the Relorg fish I kept by my bedside to illuminate my room, and slapped someone's face. Trees stretched high into the air above me, and it took me a moment to remember where I was. Medli was sitting up, hugging herself in fear, and I'd broken into a cold sweat. My face was hoarse, and a vague dream toyed with my memory, but I couldn't remember it.
"W-what's wrong, Laruto? Why'd you scream at me to link? Did you have a nightmare?"
"Yes. Don't worry about it." I rose from the pleasant, grassy area we'd been sleeping. The Great Deku Tree had promised us a boat at dawn and made us promise not to leave any sooner or later. The strange feeling left by the story of Fado was still there. A young sage sent to a temple to save the Legendary Sword, where he died. Would that be my fate?
"Where are you going?" Medli called behind me, as I prepared to leap into the stream.
"For a swim. I'll never get back to sleep."
"Neither will I. I'll come too. I could use a flight."
I burst out of the water flipping over and over and sending a massive wave into the air at Medli. She laughed as she dodged most of it and soared after me, sending cold air onto my wet skin. I shivered and dove underwater. She flew in circles for a moment, and then flapped to gain altitude. I followed her underwater and began to float on top of the water, face down.
"Laruto? L-laruto? Oh no! She's hurt! She may need medical related attention…!" I heard a rush of wind as she swooped downward, then she yelled out again from much closer. "I know you're faking! I'm going to land right on your back!" I swerved to the side just as a feathered bullet struck the water before zooming back into the air.
"Hah ha…what's that?" she broke off suddenly.
"Come on. You can try harder than that." But when she didn't respond, I looked in the same direction. A small dark shadow was speeding across the ocean. At first I thought it must be an animal but it moved unnaturally fast. "Get out of here!" I screamed as the thing reached us.
It churned up the water everywhere, creating whirlpools that whipped me here and there, and then suddenly sent a blast of water upward, launching me with it. Gallons of water rushed ahead of me as I hung in midair for one stomach turning moment.
The water reached out to embrace me and…
I screamed and struggled to sit up, then yelped again as dull pain ripped through my left arm. Tears ripped their way past my eyes as I struggled to stand, left leg burning as if lit by a torch.
"Calmsy down, calmsy down!" a strange, squeaking and wholly unfamiliar voice implored me and I felt a tug at my arm. "I still haven't tied the splitsels! Tell her, Birdly wirdly thing!" I laid back and looked around. We were in sand, a small, rocky mountain shading us from the sun, and enclosing us like a three-sided arena. A large cylinder covered in what looked like garbage lay at the shore. Odd tubes and wires and glass spheres stuck out all over, and I also thought I spied a few familiar devices, including an anchor hole and a periscope. Medli stood nearby, wringing her wings and casting me nervous, severely worried glances.
When I saw the owner of the strange voice, I started and screamed again. A talking bush! No. Not a bush, but an odd little creature with a mask-like face wielding wide eyes and an even wider nose. The body looked like wood, and a long mane of leaves grew from atop it.
He bowed when he caught my stare. "Gris, Deku Scrub Gadgetician, at y' serv-ice. Or…was it Gadgeteer? Or Technoscrub? Um…oh! I should introduce you to my family."
"I'm Laruto. What happened here? Where are we? What hit me? Was it you?"
Medli broke in. "You got hit by Mr. Gris's…supperine and…
"Submarine."
"Do I look like I give a Moblin's butt? You smashed up the left side of her body! Keese! Do you know what trouble you've gotten us into?"
"I told you I was sorry-e-e-e. What am I supposeded to deoo?
"Start by telling us where we are," I said. An odd feeling of familiarity came from every rock and grain of sand. I couldn't shake the feeling I'd been here before.
"This? Just some little rocky islet. Headstone Isle, I think it's called."