Legends of the Waker: Remnants of Old
Chapter XLII: Control
-Edger, a Poe of the Seventeenth Lineholder Division (formerly)
As the last screaming vestiges of my host's soul quieted, I took stock of my new body. A thin but lithe and intense Hylian male, blond hair, blue eyes, a tunic so worn I could barely tell it was green. But deeper. . . this creature possessed incredible power beyond anything I'd seen since my time long, long ago, living in Hyrule as a thief. In addition to all this, he possessed two magical attachments. One was to a boomerang, which I promptly called, and the other was to the Triforce of Courage, shining a few feet from my face, casting light.
My face. How I'd longed for this day! And even better, I'd been provided with more power than any other host could have ever offered. No more grunt work lineholding for me! But then I sensed something else. Something as deep and strong as his power. Images of a girl with very long brown hair appeared. A feeling I hadn't known in three centuries overcame me. Love. Vague, oppressed memories tried to find me, but I'd sacrificed my memories to take on flesh again. Already I had to struggle to remember my name wasn't Link.
I wanted to know more about this girl. I had to find her. But suddenly I felt the boy fighting me. I had no strength to stop him. An overwhelming flood washed me away like I was nothing.
-Link
As the devouring Poe took my body, everything faded and went dark. There was only void. Total sense deprivation. Only my thoughts proved I still existed at all. I tried to do something, anything, but I was paralyzed and cut off. The only thing I could feel was my own mind unraveling. My memories, my preferences, my sense of duty, my courage, my fear, my hatred. All disappearing. But worst of all. . .my love.
It took far too much concentration to picture Zelda. I felt my soul being torn from connection to hers. I knew my defeat could also mean the end of the world, but I didn't care. I couldn't lose her. I began to fight back. I pushed and raged, using all that I had left to break free of my prison.
To my surprise, I was soon back in control. My senses came alive just in time for me to get hit by my boomerang. I was glad to feel anything at all as I slipped it into my pocket. I looked down and saw the Triforce shining before me. I thought about picking it up, but really I didn't care anymore. I began to walk away and stopped. What kind of future awaited Zelda and I? If I gave up now, and Ganondorf somehow got his hands on the Triforce. . .
I couldn't let it happen.
I quickly went back and swept the golden triangle back where it belonged in my hand. Awareness like nothing I'd ever known came over. I could now see that the Poe was still within my body, unlocking to me more power than I'd ever had before.
I flew easily into the air, my cape almost unnecessary now. I felt ready to take on Ganondorf. Shattering the Triforce seemed ridiculous now. I left the confused crowd at the coliseum soared to the glass wall. It shattered and I flew back into the lava.
-Zelda
We landed in a coffin.
I arose horrified in a small dirt cave. The lid was nearby, filled slightly burnt arrows, and fried bodies were strewn everywhere.
I looked down to see what had become of the old man and grew more horror- struck still. The old caretaker's broken body was right beneath me! I leapt up and brushed off my clothes.
"Erm. Sorry about that. Have a nice afterlife." I shivered and began to walk off, out the only horizontal exit. Even though I knew it wasn't entirely my fault, I was completely smashed in by the idea I'd killed someone.
I forced myself to turn and walk back. Forced myself to resituate the man so that his body was entirely in the coffin, and forced myself to lift the heavy, badly damaged lid and close away his body.
"Phew." A few minutes later I was back on my way, wondering if all this was Link's handiwork.
I reached a pool of lava at the end of the tunnel. It was flowing like a river and seemed to be very deep. Could he be down there?
My question was soon joined by an answer when Link came flying out. His clothes were ragged and disgusting, looking as though they'd been badly burnt, and his hair had turned somewhat blackish, but I could tell it was him.
Without speaking, we embraced tightly. I never wanted to let go again, but circumstances forced it.
"You smell like Moblin Du-"
"I love you."
"I love you too."
"I smell like what?"
"What happened to your hair?"
"You love me too?"
"Really. What happened to your hair?"
"It's a loooooong story." Link said. "First I. . ."
"Tell me later," I broke in. We really have to get you a change of clothes."
"I don't have a clue where we'd find that," he said, taking back his swords and placing them in their equally worn scabbards.
"I think I know of a place."
Chapter XLIII: "It's been fun, but I really have to scream now."
-Fado
A shiver ran up my spine as I set foot on the deck of the ship. I wasn't scared, but somehow this place was affecting me. I closed my eyes and concentrated my 'wind sight' for a moment, and saw a blazing mass of red beneath our decks. Something jumped a few levels below us, and I lost my concentration.
"I've got a bad feeling about this," I said, looking up at Mako to tell him what I'd seen. The huge ship seemed to grow all around us like a forest of masts and rigging. The bright day had been overtaken by a thick cloying mist that blocked even the edges of the ship from view.
Still dripping water, I sent drops flying when I went into a fighting stance, staff held at the ready, violin banging my back. I'd been using it as a cello all this time, but I'd tried it as a fiddle when I'd been flying outside the ship and liked it better that way.
Suddenly a red-haired Hylian girl in a blue dress with white flowers and a white apron with blue flowers walked from around a corner and jumped in shock. "What-where'd you come from?" Mako spoke up before I could stop him.
"We're traveling salesmen. We were really hoping to give you the opportunity to buy our wares. In fact, we were so eager, we forgot to but them."
"That's very kind of you. I'll find you a room to stay and get you some food." She grabbed Mako's arm and the two began to chat as they walked. I was forced to tag along, trying to get his attention and tell him we needed to jump overboard.
"Yeah, I'm also a warrior. I've killed hundreds in my day."
She led us to a door towards the back of the massive ship, still arm in arm with the mighty warrior, and we soon stood before a seemingly endless hallway. Lanterns spread dull yellowish glows that attracted insects, and a well-worn rug with a simple pattern of blue and red made our footsteps eerily silent after all the noise we'd made on deck.
But not her.
The girl hadn't made a bit of noise thus far except with her voice. And where was the crew? But still I couldn't get Mako's attention away from her. She seemed to be drinking in every word of his lies. That's the way he'd always been. Once he started, he couldn't stop himself.
. . . a former knight of Hyrule. My friend? He was a jester or a statue. I can't remember which."
She sat us down in a small room with a table and chairs, two ornate paintings, a mirror and a china cabinet, all covered in dust. And left. Finally, we were alone for a moment.
"Mako, I. . ."
"I think she likes me." He broke in.
"I thought you were in love with Hol-never mind. Just a dream. We have to get out of here."
"We can't leave! We just got here. I'm hungry."
"Yes, you're right. You can't leave." The girl came back in, but this time with eyes glowing a brighter red than her hair. The twin beams of light hit the mirror and made everything bathed in red in a sudden darkness that fell over the room. "Father's restless. You'd better steer clear of him, though. You can stay with me, Mako." I shouldn't have to mention she had no way of knowing his name sense he'd told her it was Link.
"Heh heh heh. It's been fun, but I really have to scream now." Mako said, standing up.
"Mako!"
"YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH!"
I grabbed him and ran for the door. Both of us stumbled out into the corridor. Far too long to be at the –back- of a ship.
"YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH!"
A short man was standing before us, yelling angrily, wordlessly. I tipped my hat to him and began to walk away. "Good day to ye, sir."
"YOU'RE NOT GOING ANYWHERE." Arms as transparent as glass stretched outward to wrap around us, pirate rags flapping. Mako didn't move an inch but followed them with his eyes, complexion almost white.
"I've lost my appetite. I'm not hungry anymore," he said very, very quietly.
I pressed forward with my staff and issued a threat. "I'm only going to say this once. Let us go or you're going to be extremely sorry."
"Can we go home now?" Mako asked, drawing his own weapon.
"I don't think so." I said sadly, as the arms tightened to sweep us off our feet.
I ducked low but Mako was just a little too slow and both of us were bowled over to land at the ghost man's feet. The man looked down at us and grinned. The captain will see you now. Behind the man I could see a rise in the carpet rushing towards us.
Both of us were soon rolling down the hall back towards the door, but before we reached it the rug launched us into the air and into separate doors on either side of the hall.
I stood up, my wind sight going without my intending it to. Everything was red. As the door slammed shut behind me, I came face to face with the captain.
Chapter XLIV: Consume
-Laruto
A massive dragon, solid black but for the Triforce symbol across her chest, that blended with the inky night stood over me, blanketing half of the ship. Strangely, the ship didn't tilt an inch. I could feel my tiredness and an overwhelming thirst, but only from afar. Those things weren't important now. The ocean below me was beckoning. How long had it been since I'd swam? Not since meeting Gris.
The fire and whispers fueled me as I leapt to attack the dragon, both hands at my side as I struck for Gepqa's face.
A sound like something being hocked up filled the air and a massive ball of black goo hit me, and world grew darker still as I was launched overboard and straight into the vast expanse below. I fought all the way down, my skin burning, my lungs searing. I expected the water to wash off the strange substance, but it only clung faster.
It was like drowning in fresh air. I was surrounded by the water I needed so badly. I sent a burst of crackling blue energy crawling over my skin and finally the goo gave up, arrows of blackness speeding off into the depths.
I returned to the ship to find the dragon laughing at me.
"Laugh now!" I cried out. "It'll be your last! For I will have the last laugh, and you will not. . .and. . . you will be defeated, and not laughing!"
(That was the worst taunt I ever heard.) She didn't seem to be capable of regular speech anymore, and sent out thoughts instead.
"It doesn't matter. Do you really think you're going to do anything other than die a horrible, painful death? Now if you're through playing around, I'd like to get back to work on making that happen." I flew into the air once again, but before I could attack Gepqa leapt into the air after me.
(I will consume you. There is no escape.)
I flew beneath the stern and waited, algae and barnacles crusted to the wood. Suddenly the entire ship lifted away from me and I was exposed.
I floated right before the face of the massive dragon. She was using her back to prop the vessel up. Her mouth opened and before I could think I leapt in front of the blast and created a blue barrier, sending the goo back at her. Gepqa reeled backwards, sending her burden spinning and leaving her chest exposed.
I landed on the center of the Triforce hard enough to make her fold in and began to draw power through my feet. And veins drew out on her skin, bulging as she was drained of energy. Suddenly I heard a muffled, snorting laugh and was whipped by a tail that sent me flying right through a wall of the ship and crashing into the sleeping quarters again.
"Eh, mate? Wha're you up t' now? Keep i' quie'!"
I ran for the hole in the ceiling and jumped, flipping end over end and struck out as soon as I saw Gepqa, expelling all the darkness I'd taken from her in fat, jagged black bolts. Suddenly spidery white-yellow lightning was following it, fingers of energy grasping all over Gepqa's body.
She roared and slumped forward, striking at me as she fell apart, wings melting into noxious ooze. She sent another blast of the tar-like substance but a black liquid merely washed the deck at my feet. As the energy continued to crackle and burn, I felt my own life failing. Black specters danced at the edges of my vision, slowly but steadily drawing a veil over my sight.
And my power was gone.
I felt as though my feet were kicked out from under me. I spun dizzily for a moment, and then my legs gave way, my knees crashing to the deck.
But as the slime creature that had been Gepqa drew herself back into Hylian form and stood up, I knew I had been right.
My strength had not been enough.
Chapter XLII: Control
-Edger, a Poe of the Seventeenth Lineholder Division (formerly)
As the last screaming vestiges of my host's soul quieted, I took stock of my new body. A thin but lithe and intense Hylian male, blond hair, blue eyes, a tunic so worn I could barely tell it was green. But deeper. . . this creature possessed incredible power beyond anything I'd seen since my time long, long ago, living in Hyrule as a thief. In addition to all this, he possessed two magical attachments. One was to a boomerang, which I promptly called, and the other was to the Triforce of Courage, shining a few feet from my face, casting light.
My face. How I'd longed for this day! And even better, I'd been provided with more power than any other host could have ever offered. No more grunt work lineholding for me! But then I sensed something else. Something as deep and strong as his power. Images of a girl with very long brown hair appeared. A feeling I hadn't known in three centuries overcame me. Love. Vague, oppressed memories tried to find me, but I'd sacrificed my memories to take on flesh again. Already I had to struggle to remember my name wasn't Link.
I wanted to know more about this girl. I had to find her. But suddenly I felt the boy fighting me. I had no strength to stop him. An overwhelming flood washed me away like I was nothing.
-Link
As the devouring Poe took my body, everything faded and went dark. There was only void. Total sense deprivation. Only my thoughts proved I still existed at all. I tried to do something, anything, but I was paralyzed and cut off. The only thing I could feel was my own mind unraveling. My memories, my preferences, my sense of duty, my courage, my fear, my hatred. All disappearing. But worst of all. . .my love.
It took far too much concentration to picture Zelda. I felt my soul being torn from connection to hers. I knew my defeat could also mean the end of the world, but I didn't care. I couldn't lose her. I began to fight back. I pushed and raged, using all that I had left to break free of my prison.
To my surprise, I was soon back in control. My senses came alive just in time for me to get hit by my boomerang. I was glad to feel anything at all as I slipped it into my pocket. I looked down and saw the Triforce shining before me. I thought about picking it up, but really I didn't care anymore. I began to walk away and stopped. What kind of future awaited Zelda and I? If I gave up now, and Ganondorf somehow got his hands on the Triforce. . .
I couldn't let it happen.
I quickly went back and swept the golden triangle back where it belonged in my hand. Awareness like nothing I'd ever known came over. I could now see that the Poe was still within my body, unlocking to me more power than I'd ever had before.
I flew easily into the air, my cape almost unnecessary now. I felt ready to take on Ganondorf. Shattering the Triforce seemed ridiculous now. I left the confused crowd at the coliseum soared to the glass wall. It shattered and I flew back into the lava.
-Zelda
We landed in a coffin.
I arose horrified in a small dirt cave. The lid was nearby, filled slightly burnt arrows, and fried bodies were strewn everywhere.
I looked down to see what had become of the old man and grew more horror- struck still. The old caretaker's broken body was right beneath me! I leapt up and brushed off my clothes.
"Erm. Sorry about that. Have a nice afterlife." I shivered and began to walk off, out the only horizontal exit. Even though I knew it wasn't entirely my fault, I was completely smashed in by the idea I'd killed someone.
I forced myself to turn and walk back. Forced myself to resituate the man so that his body was entirely in the coffin, and forced myself to lift the heavy, badly damaged lid and close away his body.
"Phew." A few minutes later I was back on my way, wondering if all this was Link's handiwork.
I reached a pool of lava at the end of the tunnel. It was flowing like a river and seemed to be very deep. Could he be down there?
My question was soon joined by an answer when Link came flying out. His clothes were ragged and disgusting, looking as though they'd been badly burnt, and his hair had turned somewhat blackish, but I could tell it was him.
Without speaking, we embraced tightly. I never wanted to let go again, but circumstances forced it.
"You smell like Moblin Du-"
"I love you."
"I love you too."
"I smell like what?"
"What happened to your hair?"
"You love me too?"
"Really. What happened to your hair?"
"It's a loooooong story." Link said. "First I. . ."
"Tell me later," I broke in. We really have to get you a change of clothes."
"I don't have a clue where we'd find that," he said, taking back his swords and placing them in their equally worn scabbards.
"I think I know of a place."
Chapter XLIII: "It's been fun, but I really have to scream now."
-Fado
A shiver ran up my spine as I set foot on the deck of the ship. I wasn't scared, but somehow this place was affecting me. I closed my eyes and concentrated my 'wind sight' for a moment, and saw a blazing mass of red beneath our decks. Something jumped a few levels below us, and I lost my concentration.
"I've got a bad feeling about this," I said, looking up at Mako to tell him what I'd seen. The huge ship seemed to grow all around us like a forest of masts and rigging. The bright day had been overtaken by a thick cloying mist that blocked even the edges of the ship from view.
Still dripping water, I sent drops flying when I went into a fighting stance, staff held at the ready, violin banging my back. I'd been using it as a cello all this time, but I'd tried it as a fiddle when I'd been flying outside the ship and liked it better that way.
Suddenly a red-haired Hylian girl in a blue dress with white flowers and a white apron with blue flowers walked from around a corner and jumped in shock. "What-where'd you come from?" Mako spoke up before I could stop him.
"We're traveling salesmen. We were really hoping to give you the opportunity to buy our wares. In fact, we were so eager, we forgot to but them."
"That's very kind of you. I'll find you a room to stay and get you some food." She grabbed Mako's arm and the two began to chat as they walked. I was forced to tag along, trying to get his attention and tell him we needed to jump overboard.
"Yeah, I'm also a warrior. I've killed hundreds in my day."
She led us to a door towards the back of the massive ship, still arm in arm with the mighty warrior, and we soon stood before a seemingly endless hallway. Lanterns spread dull yellowish glows that attracted insects, and a well-worn rug with a simple pattern of blue and red made our footsteps eerily silent after all the noise we'd made on deck.
But not her.
The girl hadn't made a bit of noise thus far except with her voice. And where was the crew? But still I couldn't get Mako's attention away from her. She seemed to be drinking in every word of his lies. That's the way he'd always been. Once he started, he couldn't stop himself.
. . . a former knight of Hyrule. My friend? He was a jester or a statue. I can't remember which."
She sat us down in a small room with a table and chairs, two ornate paintings, a mirror and a china cabinet, all covered in dust. And left. Finally, we were alone for a moment.
"Mako, I. . ."
"I think she likes me." He broke in.
"I thought you were in love with Hol-never mind. Just a dream. We have to get out of here."
"We can't leave! We just got here. I'm hungry."
"Yes, you're right. You can't leave." The girl came back in, but this time with eyes glowing a brighter red than her hair. The twin beams of light hit the mirror and made everything bathed in red in a sudden darkness that fell over the room. "Father's restless. You'd better steer clear of him, though. You can stay with me, Mako." I shouldn't have to mention she had no way of knowing his name sense he'd told her it was Link.
"Heh heh heh. It's been fun, but I really have to scream now." Mako said, standing up.
"Mako!"
"YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH!"
I grabbed him and ran for the door. Both of us stumbled out into the corridor. Far too long to be at the –back- of a ship.
"YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH!"
A short man was standing before us, yelling angrily, wordlessly. I tipped my hat to him and began to walk away. "Good day to ye, sir."
"YOU'RE NOT GOING ANYWHERE." Arms as transparent as glass stretched outward to wrap around us, pirate rags flapping. Mako didn't move an inch but followed them with his eyes, complexion almost white.
"I've lost my appetite. I'm not hungry anymore," he said very, very quietly.
I pressed forward with my staff and issued a threat. "I'm only going to say this once. Let us go or you're going to be extremely sorry."
"Can we go home now?" Mako asked, drawing his own weapon.
"I don't think so." I said sadly, as the arms tightened to sweep us off our feet.
I ducked low but Mako was just a little too slow and both of us were bowled over to land at the ghost man's feet. The man looked down at us and grinned. The captain will see you now. Behind the man I could see a rise in the carpet rushing towards us.
Both of us were soon rolling down the hall back towards the door, but before we reached it the rug launched us into the air and into separate doors on either side of the hall.
I stood up, my wind sight going without my intending it to. Everything was red. As the door slammed shut behind me, I came face to face with the captain.
Chapter XLIV: Consume
-Laruto
A massive dragon, solid black but for the Triforce symbol across her chest, that blended with the inky night stood over me, blanketing half of the ship. Strangely, the ship didn't tilt an inch. I could feel my tiredness and an overwhelming thirst, but only from afar. Those things weren't important now. The ocean below me was beckoning. How long had it been since I'd swam? Not since meeting Gris.
The fire and whispers fueled me as I leapt to attack the dragon, both hands at my side as I struck for Gepqa's face.
A sound like something being hocked up filled the air and a massive ball of black goo hit me, and world grew darker still as I was launched overboard and straight into the vast expanse below. I fought all the way down, my skin burning, my lungs searing. I expected the water to wash off the strange substance, but it only clung faster.
It was like drowning in fresh air. I was surrounded by the water I needed so badly. I sent a burst of crackling blue energy crawling over my skin and finally the goo gave up, arrows of blackness speeding off into the depths.
I returned to the ship to find the dragon laughing at me.
"Laugh now!" I cried out. "It'll be your last! For I will have the last laugh, and you will not. . .and. . . you will be defeated, and not laughing!"
(That was the worst taunt I ever heard.) She didn't seem to be capable of regular speech anymore, and sent out thoughts instead.
"It doesn't matter. Do you really think you're going to do anything other than die a horrible, painful death? Now if you're through playing around, I'd like to get back to work on making that happen." I flew into the air once again, but before I could attack Gepqa leapt into the air after me.
(I will consume you. There is no escape.)
I flew beneath the stern and waited, algae and barnacles crusted to the wood. Suddenly the entire ship lifted away from me and I was exposed.
I floated right before the face of the massive dragon. She was using her back to prop the vessel up. Her mouth opened and before I could think I leapt in front of the blast and created a blue barrier, sending the goo back at her. Gepqa reeled backwards, sending her burden spinning and leaving her chest exposed.
I landed on the center of the Triforce hard enough to make her fold in and began to draw power through my feet. And veins drew out on her skin, bulging as she was drained of energy. Suddenly I heard a muffled, snorting laugh and was whipped by a tail that sent me flying right through a wall of the ship and crashing into the sleeping quarters again.
"Eh, mate? Wha're you up t' now? Keep i' quie'!"
I ran for the hole in the ceiling and jumped, flipping end over end and struck out as soon as I saw Gepqa, expelling all the darkness I'd taken from her in fat, jagged black bolts. Suddenly spidery white-yellow lightning was following it, fingers of energy grasping all over Gepqa's body.
She roared and slumped forward, striking at me as she fell apart, wings melting into noxious ooze. She sent another blast of the tar-like substance but a black liquid merely washed the deck at my feet. As the energy continued to crackle and burn, I felt my own life failing. Black specters danced at the edges of my vision, slowly but steadily drawing a veil over my sight.
And my power was gone.
I felt as though my feet were kicked out from under me. I spun dizzily for a moment, and then my legs gave way, my knees crashing to the deck.
But as the slime creature that had been Gepqa drew herself back into Hylian form and stood up, I knew I had been right.
My strength had not been enough.