Legends of the Waker: Remnants of Old
Chapter IXX: Grounded
-Link
The ground rumbled and shook beneath my feet and the world seemed to have spun away, leaving me in a much larger arena, surrounded by five statues brought to life. There was nothing else they could want. The battle was underway. The battle my -king- had left me to. He was gone.
-Dror-
-Firos-
-Kilp-
-Gewten-
-Ior-
-Servants of the King-
I held a sword in each hand as I took to the air. A massive spear flew my way with unnerving grace. I dodged it only to fly in the face of Firos. The room was suddenly tumbling around me and pain seared across my vision. One of the windows bearing a picture of the Triforce shattered as I struck it, sending me out into the now colorful world beyond, a rain of stained glass all over me.
But the Triforce was there when I needed it.
Winded but somehow unhurt, I flew forward then spun and went back through the opening, just before it sealed itself with plain glass.
All five statues waited for me. I ducked between two, a third smashing down with it's spear, narrowly missing my feet. I landed on Gewten's shoulder and began spinning and slashing with both swords. My efforts didn't deliver a single chip. Unable to reach me, Gewten ran towards Ior, pointing his shoulder forward. I leapt free, but suddenly felt a sharp pain on my neck. The room became a blur as I hit the ground rolling. Gewten and Ior seemed to be dazed, both their shoulders ruinous, leaving their right arms nearly disconnected.
The remaining three were thundering towards me, the ground shaking beneath their feet. I jumped into the air.
. . .and came down as quickly. My cape was gone. I could see it, now, caught on a bit of Gewten's armor. A spear hit the ground with explosive force just inches from my head. I struggled to stay out of the way of feet rocking and smashing the ground into unending quakes that put me in the air nearly as much as my cape.
When a spear hit me and sent me into the river that had come out of the tiny circular pool beneath the windows, I thought all hope lost.
-To come this far. . . -
The water played with me for a few moments before I fought my way to the ramp, where the statues waited still.
"It ends."
I spoke the words without knowing why and soared into the air, the Triforce glowing brilliantly, surrounding me with impenetrable golden light. I came at Dror and this time my swords found hold. I landed only to spin on one foot towards the next target, rubble raining down.
Firos and Ior came at me together and I flew between them both, and circled around Firos's head. I kicked hard and both smashed together, falling to the ground.
I was about to make an attack on Kilp when suddenly a spear came flying at my incandescent shield. Both shattered, leaving me dazed and grounded yet again, my swords gone, having flown across the room.
Gewten swung his lance at me again, but this time I wrapped around it and held on. When he brought it up, I rolled down and landed on the left shoulder. A quick jump and I was hanging by my cloak.
Gewten was livid with anger, slamming everything he could to shake me, and falling apart in so doing. I was shook free and sent flying crazily, unable to control the cloak from this side.
Kilp swung an enormous fist at me and I barely missed his outstretched hand. He picked up Firo's mostly undamaged arm and hurled it at me.
I was suddenly pinned to the ground with both statues advancing. I gave one last push and the arm struck Kilp. I swept the cloak around my shoulders and followed it into the air. I flew through Kilp's rubble and struck Gewten feet first, sending him tumbling to the ground, where he fell apart at last.
I picked up my swords and stood leaning on them, breath escaping in ragged gasps, as applause reached my ears from the stair.
"Well done, Link. This test has proven your courage true-"
"At least one of us was entertained. I could have been killed! It is I who should be testing you! It is the blood of my fathers that has kept our people safe!"
I felt only hatred for the man I'd once called king. With a snort of derision, I flew from the room and into the world beyond. I was through with his manipulation.
Chapter XX: Leap of Faith
-Fado
"It is only a simple jump, a leap of faith. Easy, or have your spite and sarcasm grown too heavy for you?"
I stood on the cliff's edge where I'd spent much of the past two weeks. The old Rito, Maestro, had taught me a hundred things about being a sage, sharpening my skills and toughening my mind. One thing I'd been itching to point out was that he still hadn't taught me to fly. I'd informed him we left tomorrow, and he'd brought me here, and told me straight off to jump over the edge of the cliff.
"I didn't come all this way to throw it all out. I'm not going to kill myself."
"Kill yourself! Ganon can take far more than your life. What are you so afraid of?" he responded, peering into my eyes.
"Nothing! I do not fear!" I found my mood growing more and more heated.
"Wrong!" he roared. "Everyone fears something. What is it for you?
"I fear only failure."
"Then you need not worry. Failure will not meet you here if you make this jump."
"I do not see what I have to gain by this." Without another word, I leaned forward and off the cliff.
The side of the cliff and, long pinnacled rocks that reached into the sky soared past me. My hair was whipped upward and I was glad I wasn't wearing my hat. The sea rushed to greet me but as I neared it, I felt the burden of my last three weeks melting away, and for the first time in nearly as long, I smiled.
The air seemed to shift and change around me. Suddenly I could see as I fell the wind that brushed through the waves, the grass of distant islands, my face. Everything seemed to have shifted and grown deeper. I could not only see the whites, blues, reds and yellows of the wind, but also the dark and light currents coming out of a Rito on the beach.
I reached out both hands and came to a stop a few feet above the waves. I tilted my legs and felt water brush my boots. Tucking my arms, I soared upward in a sudden blast, sending waves of green outward when I stopped. I laughed and went upward again, without stopping. I flew in loops above Maestro's head. To my surprise he joined me in the air. We circled and spun around each other, laughing and slamming into each other.
Suddenly I was aware of Holly, back down on the cliff, screaming something.
". . .Fado! Fado? Come quick! Something's not right, but it's Mako. He's been found!"
Chapter XXI: Courage and Darkness
-Medli
The wind swam through my feathers as I flew for the growing island before me. A thousand images rushed through my brain as I flew, of past, present, and future. I hadn't expected such stinging words out of someone I'd grown so close to.
As I neared the island I could make a small divided island mountain. A few dozen tiny huts were clustered at the foot, and a very tall tower stood at the eastern edge, where I was coming in. The tower consisted merely of a long pillar with a ladder on one side and a small wooden platform, open to the sky, at the top. Tools and lumber were scattered on it and the beach nearby.
A single Hylian was crouched atop it, hammering in a board. I neared and called out.
"Hey there! Injured Zora on the way! We need your healer!"
"AVAST, INTRUDER! I will smite thee mightily with the power of the Waker! Tremble, young falconess, for your death day is at hand!" A young boy with a mop of blond hair and blue eyes glared fiercely up at me, wearing a Kyorg shirt and green pants, he was hardly imposing.
"I mean no harm. We really need help."
"The mighty eagle avails not my commands! I will destroy her and make dinner for my hungered family!" He pulled out a strange wand from some pocket and pointed it at me.
In mid-laugh I was about to fly on and ignore him when a voice whispered to me.
-The Wind Waker-
A blast of solid wind hit me like a crashing wave and the sky, ocean and island swirled into each other as I fell backward and down. I lifted my wings and flapped hard for the blue above. If I fell into the water I wouldn't be able to fly until I dried out. I swooped around and landed on the ladder, and flew up in short bursts. When I reached the top, I ducked my head up and down quickly.
"Cowardly crow! Fight like a hawk!" A blast of wind sent tools and lumber winging past my head. I darted a hand out and grabbed a wooden hammer.
I leapt up, flipped to the left, and flung the hammer at his wand arm. . .
. . .and missed. A howl of pain reached my ears anyways, and a quick look showed he'd gotten it to the foot. I quickly scooped up the Waker where he'd dropped it and pointed it at his face.
"The healer. Now."
-Laruto
The eleven Deku carefully loaded me into the 'submarine' and into a bed. One by one they hopped in after me and took various stations. Except Burt. The smelly little Scrub had fortunately taken an extreme liking to me and decided to never leave my side.
"And then Poll said, you gonna eat that, and I said, of course, and he said, no you ain't, and just took it! I was so pi-"
"Enough, Burtsy. Leave her alone." Gris came and picked him up, holding him by one foot before chucking him someplace aft.
He returned to the controls and soon the ship submerged. Sea water covered us, but didn't touch. I found myself longing for the embrace of the water, missing it's comfort. As I looked out at passing fish through the porthole, I thought back to what I'd said to Medli, wishing I could take it back. What could have made me say that?
More important, would it be back?
Chapter IXX: Grounded
-Link
The ground rumbled and shook beneath my feet and the world seemed to have spun away, leaving me in a much larger arena, surrounded by five statues brought to life. There was nothing else they could want. The battle was underway. The battle my -king- had left me to. He was gone.
-Dror-
-Firos-
-Kilp-
-Gewten-
-Ior-
-Servants of the King-
I held a sword in each hand as I took to the air. A massive spear flew my way with unnerving grace. I dodged it only to fly in the face of Firos. The room was suddenly tumbling around me and pain seared across my vision. One of the windows bearing a picture of the Triforce shattered as I struck it, sending me out into the now colorful world beyond, a rain of stained glass all over me.
But the Triforce was there when I needed it.
Winded but somehow unhurt, I flew forward then spun and went back through the opening, just before it sealed itself with plain glass.
All five statues waited for me. I ducked between two, a third smashing down with it's spear, narrowly missing my feet. I landed on Gewten's shoulder and began spinning and slashing with both swords. My efforts didn't deliver a single chip. Unable to reach me, Gewten ran towards Ior, pointing his shoulder forward. I leapt free, but suddenly felt a sharp pain on my neck. The room became a blur as I hit the ground rolling. Gewten and Ior seemed to be dazed, both their shoulders ruinous, leaving their right arms nearly disconnected.
The remaining three were thundering towards me, the ground shaking beneath their feet. I jumped into the air.
. . .and came down as quickly. My cape was gone. I could see it, now, caught on a bit of Gewten's armor. A spear hit the ground with explosive force just inches from my head. I struggled to stay out of the way of feet rocking and smashing the ground into unending quakes that put me in the air nearly as much as my cape.
When a spear hit me and sent me into the river that had come out of the tiny circular pool beneath the windows, I thought all hope lost.
-To come this far. . . -
The water played with me for a few moments before I fought my way to the ramp, where the statues waited still.
"It ends."
I spoke the words without knowing why and soared into the air, the Triforce glowing brilliantly, surrounding me with impenetrable golden light. I came at Dror and this time my swords found hold. I landed only to spin on one foot towards the next target, rubble raining down.
Firos and Ior came at me together and I flew between them both, and circled around Firos's head. I kicked hard and both smashed together, falling to the ground.
I was about to make an attack on Kilp when suddenly a spear came flying at my incandescent shield. Both shattered, leaving me dazed and grounded yet again, my swords gone, having flown across the room.
Gewten swung his lance at me again, but this time I wrapped around it and held on. When he brought it up, I rolled down and landed on the left shoulder. A quick jump and I was hanging by my cloak.
Gewten was livid with anger, slamming everything he could to shake me, and falling apart in so doing. I was shook free and sent flying crazily, unable to control the cloak from this side.
Kilp swung an enormous fist at me and I barely missed his outstretched hand. He picked up Firo's mostly undamaged arm and hurled it at me.
I was suddenly pinned to the ground with both statues advancing. I gave one last push and the arm struck Kilp. I swept the cloak around my shoulders and followed it into the air. I flew through Kilp's rubble and struck Gewten feet first, sending him tumbling to the ground, where he fell apart at last.
I picked up my swords and stood leaning on them, breath escaping in ragged gasps, as applause reached my ears from the stair.
"Well done, Link. This test has proven your courage true-"
"At least one of us was entertained. I could have been killed! It is I who should be testing you! It is the blood of my fathers that has kept our people safe!"
I felt only hatred for the man I'd once called king. With a snort of derision, I flew from the room and into the world beyond. I was through with his manipulation.
Chapter XX: Leap of Faith
-Fado
"It is only a simple jump, a leap of faith. Easy, or have your spite and sarcasm grown too heavy for you?"
I stood on the cliff's edge where I'd spent much of the past two weeks. The old Rito, Maestro, had taught me a hundred things about being a sage, sharpening my skills and toughening my mind. One thing I'd been itching to point out was that he still hadn't taught me to fly. I'd informed him we left tomorrow, and he'd brought me here, and told me straight off to jump over the edge of the cliff.
"I didn't come all this way to throw it all out. I'm not going to kill myself."
"Kill yourself! Ganon can take far more than your life. What are you so afraid of?" he responded, peering into my eyes.
"Nothing! I do not fear!" I found my mood growing more and more heated.
"Wrong!" he roared. "Everyone fears something. What is it for you?
"I fear only failure."
"Then you need not worry. Failure will not meet you here if you make this jump."
"I do not see what I have to gain by this." Without another word, I leaned forward and off the cliff.
The side of the cliff and, long pinnacled rocks that reached into the sky soared past me. My hair was whipped upward and I was glad I wasn't wearing my hat. The sea rushed to greet me but as I neared it, I felt the burden of my last three weeks melting away, and for the first time in nearly as long, I smiled.
The air seemed to shift and change around me. Suddenly I could see as I fell the wind that brushed through the waves, the grass of distant islands, my face. Everything seemed to have shifted and grown deeper. I could not only see the whites, blues, reds and yellows of the wind, but also the dark and light currents coming out of a Rito on the beach.
I reached out both hands and came to a stop a few feet above the waves. I tilted my legs and felt water brush my boots. Tucking my arms, I soared upward in a sudden blast, sending waves of green outward when I stopped. I laughed and went upward again, without stopping. I flew in loops above Maestro's head. To my surprise he joined me in the air. We circled and spun around each other, laughing and slamming into each other.
Suddenly I was aware of Holly, back down on the cliff, screaming something.
". . .Fado! Fado? Come quick! Something's not right, but it's Mako. He's been found!"
Chapter XXI: Courage and Darkness
-Medli
The wind swam through my feathers as I flew for the growing island before me. A thousand images rushed through my brain as I flew, of past, present, and future. I hadn't expected such stinging words out of someone I'd grown so close to.
As I neared the island I could make a small divided island mountain. A few dozen tiny huts were clustered at the foot, and a very tall tower stood at the eastern edge, where I was coming in. The tower consisted merely of a long pillar with a ladder on one side and a small wooden platform, open to the sky, at the top. Tools and lumber were scattered on it and the beach nearby.
A single Hylian was crouched atop it, hammering in a board. I neared and called out.
"Hey there! Injured Zora on the way! We need your healer!"
"AVAST, INTRUDER! I will smite thee mightily with the power of the Waker! Tremble, young falconess, for your death day is at hand!" A young boy with a mop of blond hair and blue eyes glared fiercely up at me, wearing a Kyorg shirt and green pants, he was hardly imposing.
"I mean no harm. We really need help."
"The mighty eagle avails not my commands! I will destroy her and make dinner for my hungered family!" He pulled out a strange wand from some pocket and pointed it at me.
In mid-laugh I was about to fly on and ignore him when a voice whispered to me.
-The Wind Waker-
A blast of solid wind hit me like a crashing wave and the sky, ocean and island swirled into each other as I fell backward and down. I lifted my wings and flapped hard for the blue above. If I fell into the water I wouldn't be able to fly until I dried out. I swooped around and landed on the ladder, and flew up in short bursts. When I reached the top, I ducked my head up and down quickly.
"Cowardly crow! Fight like a hawk!" A blast of wind sent tools and lumber winging past my head. I darted a hand out and grabbed a wooden hammer.
I leapt up, flipped to the left, and flung the hammer at his wand arm. . .
. . .and missed. A howl of pain reached my ears anyways, and a quick look showed he'd gotten it to the foot. I quickly scooped up the Waker where he'd dropped it and pointed it at his face.
"The healer. Now."
-Laruto
The eleven Deku carefully loaded me into the 'submarine' and into a bed. One by one they hopped in after me and took various stations. Except Burt. The smelly little Scrub had fortunately taken an extreme liking to me and decided to never leave my side.
"And then Poll said, you gonna eat that, and I said, of course, and he said, no you ain't, and just took it! I was so pi-"
"Enough, Burtsy. Leave her alone." Gris came and picked him up, holding him by one foot before chucking him someplace aft.
He returned to the controls and soon the ship submerged. Sea water covered us, but didn't touch. I found myself longing for the embrace of the water, missing it's comfort. As I looked out at passing fish through the porthole, I thought back to what I'd said to Medli, wishing I could take it back. What could have made me say that?
More important, would it be back?